THEFTS IN ARMY

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1943, Page 4

THEFTS IN ARMY

OFFICER AND NON-COMS. Fined at Christchurch P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 29. Thefts of Army ammunition ana other property were alleged against a Lieutenant Quartermaster, a Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant, and a Sergeant of the Fifth Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, at the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.. to-day. The Quartermaster-Sergeant and the Sergeant pleaded guilty. The Lieutenant Quartermaster pleaded not guilty. The accused and the charges were: William Douglas Crombie, Lieutenant Quartermaster and Adjutant, aged 48; alleged theft on November 17, of 1575 rounds of .303 ammunition; 25 pairs of cut heel leathers; 33* pains of cut sole leathers; and 25 iron boot tips, of a total'value of £23 15s lid. Bart Huia Dean, Regimental Quar-termaster-Sergeant, aged 47; alleged theft on August 31, 1942, of two tins of custard powder; on May 12, 1943 of 41bs of coffee and 41bs of cocoa; and on November 6, of six anti-dim outfits, a bottle of milk, heel plates, nails and brads, 12 gallons of kerosene, 750 rounds of .22 ammunition, 59 rounds of .303 ammunition and 320 rounds of .45 tommy-gun ammunition; of a total value of £65 8s Id. Naylor William Collins Hillary, a Sergeant, aged 43; alleged theft on October 20 of 1052 rounds of .303 ammunition, valued at £lO 15s. When the Magistrate asked why the Staff Captain, who seemed to be an important witness, had not been called for the defence, Mr W. R. Lascelles, who appeared for ' Crombie, said that he expected the prosecution to call this officer. . "It seems a grave miscarriage ot justice,” said Mr Lascelles, when the prosecution did not place a statement made by the accused before the Court. , ~ Senior Detective H. Nuttall said that, since this statement was not made before, or at the request of a police officer, it was of no concern to the prosecution. "Why should this Court have to deal with military cases, when courts martial are frequently being held? asked the Magistrate. "I think it most unfair that, when we have so much work to deal with, we should have these cases too.” "We’d like it that way too, said Senior Detective Nuttall. Crombie was fined £l5, or in default 30 days’ imprisonment with hard labour. . , . .. Hillary was fined £5, or in default 10 days’ imprisonment, with hard labour. .. Dean was fined £5 and £lO on the first and second charges, or in default 10 and 21 days’ imprisonment With hard labour respectively. . The other charges were dismissed.