POLICEMAN’S TRIAL

Grey River Argus, 9 May 1930, Page 5

POLICEMAN’S TRIAL

ON THEFT CHARGES Results in Acquittal (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. Al the Supreme Court, the trial ha: begun of Joseph Reginald Wilson, ai ex-constable, on charges of theft 01 goods from shops in Christchurch. The Crown Prosecutor • (Air Don nelly) said that possession of the goods had been traced to Wilson ii D'is way.. It was alleged that he gave a fur coat to a girl to whom he wa> engaged. He had a disagreement with hi r, and bought it from her for £l5 f'le girl said that cutlery avhs left at her place. There was sufficient t< stock an hotel, let alone a constable’s house. The girl at first denied that Wilson had given her anything, apparently wishing to shield him, but later she handed over a fur coat. Wil son denied that he gave any of the articles to the girl, but her statement ■ h.r he gave them was corroborated •)y her relatives, it Avas an important point that Wilson Avas a constable at the time. If he- committed a breach of his duty to protect the property of tradespeople, and used his position to get access to premises, it wan a very serious matter. S'c’geanL AlcNamara said that if the constable found a shop door open, he should report it. No report of that na’ure Avas made in respect to Liberty’s on the night of Fcbruarv 28, 1929. To .Mr Hunter: He did not fin’d Wilson eft his beat that night. A constable on beat was timed, and "Wilson was where ho ought to have been. Witness had always found Wilson a satisfactory constable. Th-' hearing is proceeding. May 8In the case, in which the constable was charged, evidence was given bj 1 cpM'si'n fa t j ves of fjlie l shopkeepers concerned that th c goods in the possession of thc pollice were identica with goods which had been in tlieii stocks, and which had been missei] without having been sold. .sladys .Myrtle Johansson said she had been engaged to the accused, the marriage hail been -arranged fur •lone 2(>th () f last year, but the engagement was broken off in. November. following a quarrel, during which witness threatened to go to the Snp’.rlintendent of Police. The accused had ill-ought a fur coat to her one night, saying that it was a wediliug present. Witness had bought. Hie cunt from Wilson for £l5. She hail also got two frocks and a box of cullcrA from accused. Inspector Pi‘izpa trick, of Greymoutli. said that on Alarch I7tli * he ; aw th., accused at Auckland. and ■bowed b. : m tho eoat and frocks. Wilson denied having given Aliss Johanss'on the articles. Witness examined tb.p accused’s place of rfetridcncfr md he discovered there a motor tyre le'vor sharpened. Ihe jury returned, after one hour, Announcing that they were unable cc igree. ills Honour informe;! them that ho was unable to accept a disagreement inti] they Ivid bt in in retirement for four hours. / Lntera the JiAy returned with a verdict of not guilty on all q,-tints.