A FOOLISH ACT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3965, 25 June 1915, Page 3

A FOOLISH ACT.

THEFT OF RAILWAY SLEEPERS. FINE OF £lO IMPOSED. .A case which caused a. great deal of interest in shipping circles came before Air W. A. Barton, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, when John Coleman was charged by the police with the theft of thirteen sleepers, the property of the New Zealand Railway Department. Detective McLeod conducted the prosecution, labile Air Stock appeared for the accused, who pleaded guilty. His Worship asked what wore the particulars of the case. Detective McLeod explained that the Railway Department laid 775 sleepers stacked! down near tlio wharf for some time. The stack was counted on Tuesday last, when Id wore found missing. On visiting accused’s section in Clnlder’s Road, ho discovered a number of the sleepers, which had been sawn in half.

His. Worship asked by whom the accused 'was employed. Detective McLeod said accused was employed by the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Meat Company, Ltd., and held a responsible position. Mr Armstrong, District Engineer of the Public Works Department had informed him (Detective McLeod) -that a. large number of sleepers, over 100, I had been taken within the past year, from the same stack and also from Makaraka. Air Stock, for the accused, said that whatever the accused had done had lieen done quite openly. His Worship: Do you moan to tell me .the sleepers wore taken in the daylight? Mr - " Stock : Yes. The sleepers were stacked in the Gisborne Sheepfanners’ Company’s yard, and had been there for some time. Accused, very foolishly and recklessly, had taken the sleepers. Up to the present, accused had borne a very good character, lie suggested that His Warship might convict accused, and order “him to come up for sentence when called upon. William Frederick 'Coder wall .general manager of the Gisborne Sheepfanners' Frozen Meat Company., said that the accused had been in the employ of the Company since 1901. and was in charge of the "lighters, and hold the position of Marine Superintendent for the Company. Witness had always found accused to be perfectly honest, a n d his character had been of the best while with the Company. His Worship said there was no doubt hut that this was a deliberate case of theft, and there were no extenuating circumstances. “You held responsible position,” said the Magistrate, addressing accused, “and it is most difficult to understand how a man in your position could bains committed such an act. It is not as if it was a case of want/’ llis Worship said he would take into consideration the good character accused had previously borne, and would impose a fine of £lO. and order him to pay the value of tho property stolen, £4 4s (Id, in default- six weeks’ hard labor. The Magistrate advised accused to keep his hands off other people's property in future.

Tho amount of the penalty was immedia toly i'ortheomi ng.