THEFTS OF PETROL

Evening Star, Issue 25168, 6 May 1944, Page 8

THEFTS OF PETROL

200 GALLONS OF U.S. SUPPLIES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 5. Charged with the theft of five 40-gallon drums of petrol belonging to the United States Government, George Cyril Lawson, a taxi driver, pleaded not guilty in the Supremo Court, to-day. He also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of receiving them knowing them to have been stolen.

For the prosecution, Mr W. H. Cunningham said the evidence would be that on December 23 the accused approached a carrier and asked him to take some drums from the Aotea quay. The carrier followed the taxi driver. On the way the taxi stopped and picked up a civilian. The'accused waited outside Hie wharf, and a ship's officer approached. The lorry was backed under one of the slings. Five drums were loaded on to it, and the lorry drove away, the officer accompanying it. The lorry followed the taxi to Hawkestonc Crescent. Next day the police made inquiries. The accused first denied that he was the occupier of a garage, and he also denied the presence of petrol. A search revealed five drums, one of which had been emptied. , Mr CunniDgham said the petrol could not have been got off the wharf unless there was some collusion with the officer who had control of it. The petrol was stolen under the very noses of the United States authorities, and was done boldly with the connivance of someone who was no doubt getting something out of it. The accused, in a written statement, said he was hailed by a aivilian whom he did not know, and asked to get a carrier to do a job. The civilian and the carrier went on to the wharf, and when the lorry came out there was a United States army officer on it. The accused was asked if he knew where the petrol could be stored, and he offered his garage. The officer agreed to pay rent, and said he would collect the petrol over the holidays. The accused drained some petrol into « drum of his own, as he was told he could use some. He had not used any of it so The jury found the accused guilty of theft, but not guilty of receiving. He was remanded for sentence. ~<>*•'► •»''»>'i l »»»i ; «»»(»i'» | i«l'«l!»1W!eT«r!»l'«rit«i