EXTENSIVE THEFTS ALLEGED

Evening Star, Issue 20119, 8 March 1929, Page 7

EXTENSIVE THEFTS ALLEGED

SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF STOCK STOREMAN AND TOBACCONIST CHARGED Henry George Parsons and 'William Stewart Scott appeared at the Police Court this morning to answer a charge that on September 13 and on divers dates between that and December 10 they stole a quantity of tobacco and cigarettes valued at £SO, tho property ■of J. Rattray and Son, Ltd. Mr A. C Hanlon appeared for Scott and Mr B. S. Irwin for Parsons. Detective Russell said that on December 12 he and Detective Boycroft had gone to J. Rattray and Son, Ltd,, in Crawford street, and Mr Battray handed witness an envelope addressed to “ Mr H. Parsons, care of J. Battray and Son, Ltd.,” and also a cheque on the Bank of Now Zealand, Mosgiel, paid to a number, and signed W. S. Scott. 'A sheet of paper was handed over giving lists and descriptions of cigarettes and tobacco in tho form of an order. .The same afternoon witness saw the accused Parsons in the office of J. Rattray and Sou, Ltd. "Witness asked him if tho cheque, envelope, and order were for him, and he replied in tho affirmative. Witness asked him where he was getting the tobacco that he was selling to W. S. Scott, Mosgiel, and ho said it had not oomo from Bat tray's, and that he had not taken it from their store. He stated that ho was not prepared to say where ho had got the tobacco. On arrival at the detective office, however, Parsons made a statement that when a man named Percival Rogers •left Rattray’s about twelve months ago he had asked Parsons if he would like to make a few shillings by disposing of parcels of tobacco for a man named Thompson. Parsons did nob do anything in the matter until he received a note from Thompson. Parsons said ho had never handled any parcels, but always told Scott where be could inch them up. When Scott wanted tobacco ho sent a list to Parsons, who hung on to it until ho received a ring from Thompson. The cheque for £l3 (produced) had wen sent to him to hand to Thompson. Parsons said ho did not know Thompson’s permanent address, but knew he hawked clothes about the country. Scott was seen at his shop at Mosgiel, and when he was asked about parcels of tobacco he had received from Parsons ho declined to answer questions, though be later calmed down and arranged to call at the detective office next day. Scott showed Detective Roycroft receipts for tobacco ho had purchased from P. Dayman and Fairbairu and Wright. In a further statement on Decomtier 13, witness continued, Parsons said he had received seven or eight cheques in all from Scott, but on two occasions a boy who had called to see if tlier© were any letters for Thompson was given the order and cheque. Parsons said that sometimes ho left the order and’ cheque m an envelope with tho barman ut ilio Terminus Hotel. He had only/ seen Thompson on three or lour occasions. Witness saw Scott at Mosgiel on December 14, the latter obtaining six cheques from the Bank of Now Zealand, which he handed to wit ness, saying that they were the cheques seut to Parsons to hand to J. Thopip son in payment for cigarettes and toI/hcco. On December 2U Scott called at •the detective office, where he made a statement concerning the cheques, and said that all tobacco parcels received were in accord with orders sent to Parsons for J. Thompson. When questioned, Parsons said he had not cashed any cheques from Scott, but when asked if a man named Fraser had cashed any cheques for him Parsons said he did remember, and made a further statement that he remembered cashing three cheques with Fraser. The money ha got from the cheques ho handed over to J. Thompson, and in all cases it wasn’t the boy who called for the envelope with the money. Parsons was given time to find the man J. Thompson, and on February 10 Parsons was seen by the witness ami asked if he had seen Thompson. Parsons replied that he had nob seen him or heard anything about him, and ho was not likely to when everyone knew that tobacco was missing from Rattray's and that he had got the sack. When Parsons and Scott were both told that, interviewed by the police in Wellington, Rogers said no (Jicl not know J. Thompson, had never Obtained any parcels of tobacco from him, and had not made any arrangement for Parsons to hand parcels to Scott, they said they had nothing further to say. Witness said ho had made inquiries for Thompson and could get no trace of the man of that name and answering to the description given of him. Detective Roycroft corroborated the evidence of the previous witness with respect to the occasions when both were present. Parsons called on witness and said the man Thompson had stayed at Branson’s Hotel and was known to a barman named Reid. In company with Parsons witness went to Hie hotel. Parsons asked the barman if ho remembered his being in the bar with Thompson, but the barman said he did not remember Thompson. Witness inquired at the hotel, but could find no record of a man of the description of Thompson having stayed at the hotel. Witness waited outside Battray and Co.’s to see if any of the boys mentioned called, but none carno. No trace had been found of small boys going to Rattray's for parcels. Scott called at the police station on December 13 and made a statement in which he said that Rodgers told him lie could get tobacco for him at cost price. Rodgers supplied him with one «r two parcels, winch witness thought Rodgers had bought from Rattray’s himself. Rodgers told him he knew a man named Thompson who could get tobacco at a reduced rate, and introduced Parsons to him.

Arthur Owen Davies, salesman, said that in January, in company with another employee, ho took out" a balancesheet of tho tobacco. That balancesheet showed a considerable shortage of tobacco between October and tho cud of the year. John Elvidge, sales manager, said that on December ,IU ho cleared the firm's letter box at the Post Office. Tho mail included the letter produced, containing th© cheque and the order, witness opening it by mistake. Scott was not a customer of tho firm, and no tobacco had been sold to Parsons, who had been employed by the firm for toventeeu years as an assistant storeman.

Horae# Miller said that during; October of Jasc year he visited Parsons at Rattray’s store in connection with his own firm’s business. He had done some messages for Parsons. He had taken three parcels, ono to Hamilton’s, in Stuart street, and two to Townsend’s. In Lower High street. Parsons told him they would he called for. Parsons gave witness a tin of fifty cigarettes on two occasions. On another occasion Parsons asked witness to take another parcel, but witness said lie was too busy. Ernest Edward Hornbrook, a Carrier nt Mosgiel, said that at the request of Parsons ho had picked up some parrels from the left luggage office at the Dunedin railway station for Scott, which had been left at the shop next to Scott’s, Scott had paid witness.;. .On

two other occasions witness had picked up parcels at the station for Scott, and lie had also nicked them up from the Tivoli.

Ngnirc Hutchison said that Scott had left parcels at the Tivoli. She had seen him packing plugs of tobacco iu a suit case. Robert Henry-Daley, barman at tin* Terminus Hotel, said he had never mreived a letter from Parsons for do livery to a Air Thompson, nor had h*» ever had a parcel for a Mr Thompson William Dawkins, licensee of th© Terminus Hotel, deposed that he had cashed a cheque for Parsons. Parsour had never left a letter with witness for delivery to a Mr Thompson. Pat sons had left parcels at the hotel, but as far as witness knew they were hia own. Frank W. A. Barnett said that a radio set was supplied to Parsons am/ paid for on delivery. The cheque of £9 produced was paid and change give? Both of the accused pleaded nol guilty and were committed to tho Supremo Court for trial.

Each accused was allowed bail of £SO, with one surety of £SO.