POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 21519, 18 September 1933, Page 10

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18.

(Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) NO LICENSE. Septimus Owens, who appeared voluntarily, was charged with employing an unlicensed truck driver, and was tilled £1 and costs. MAN AND WIFE CHARGED. John Richard Kerr and his wife (Ada Kerr) were jointly charged with the theft of a quantity of household goods, valued at £ls, tho property of Herbert Francis Payton, of Tomahawk. They nloaded not guilty. Kerr was defended by Mr A. C. Hanlon, K.C., with him Mr L. R. Simpson. Outlining the facts, Chief Detective Young said the complainant was the owner of several furnished cribs at Tomahawk. The two accused, who were now living apart in cribs, occupied a crib together at tho time of the alleged offence. On August 1, Payton found everything to be in order, but on September 1 he found that a quantity of goods were missing. The theft was reported to the ponce. Detective Taylor made investigations, and, in company with the complainant, visited Kerr’s crib on September 3, Mrs Payton identified a number of the articles. The crib occupied by Mrs Kerr was then searched and a quantity of stolon blankets were found. Kerr made a statement to Detective Taylor in which be alleged that the property had been brought to his crib by a man named John Findlay, his wife, and himself. He alleged that Findlay was the instigator of the whole affair, and that Findlay said that everything would he all right so far as the owner was concerned. Apart from the visit to_ the garage, they visited Payton’s cribs only at night. He considered that Findlay was personally responsible for accused's domestic .trouble, and also for the theft of the goods, which Findlay and Mrs Kerr were trying to put oh him. Although not blameless as to taking the goods, he alleged that the charge was brought by Mrs Kerr and Findlay so that ho would suffer the consequences, and they could do what I bey liked. Interviewed, Mrs Kerr said that she took no part in tho theft, and that tho goods were taken from the cribs by her husband. She had taken them from their crib when she left him. Findlay was also interviewed, and denied Kerr’s statements. No stolen property was found in Findlay’s crib. The stolen property was found in the possession of the two accused, and the onus was on them to satisfy the court that they had obtained the goods honestly. Evidence was given by Herbert Francis Payton, an accountant, Jessio Payton, and Detective George Taylor. (Proceeding.)