NO CASE TO ANSWER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12252, 6 April 1935, Page 7

NO CASE TO ANSWER

WELL KNOWN RESIDENTS BEFORE COURT. CHARGES OF THEFT AND ' RECEIVING DISMISSED. 1 Press isMjeWti" - BLENHEIM. April 5 Charges of stealing and receiving ships’ stores brought against three well known Pieton residents were dismissed by Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M. at the Magistrate's Court there yesterday. The proceedings were a sequel to the theft in. October last- by a seaman 011 the steamer John c-f a quantity of paint, oil, red lead, and rope belonging to the ship. This man was dealt with summarily at M T estport immediately a.fter the crime was discovered but police inquiries have been proceeding since. The loc-al men charged. w<?rO Edmund Carlton Cragg and Ferdinand Charles "Wiese, who allegedly participated in the theft of goods and Matthew Thomas Steele, ,who was charged with receiving. The police called a, seaman, William Madigan, who was responsible for the thefts, but he failed to repeat the facts he was alleged to have related to the police in statements on which the prosecutions were based. Sergeant Smytlie applied to have the witness declared hostile, but the Bench declinedWithout bearing the evidence for the defence, the magistrate dismissed the charge against Steele, agreeing with counsel’s submission that there was no case to answer. After hearing the evidence the magistrate said no difficulty was presented in dismissing the charge against Wiese. The prosecution wa somewhat stronger against Cragg, but not sufficient.