RAILWAY THEFTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 November 1924, Page 5

RAILWAY THEFTS.

TWO MEN CHARGED. (BY TELEGRAPH —-PRESS ASSOCIATION. . GISBORNE, Nov. 24. Ihe Magistrate’s Court to-day presented the appearance of a warehouse, the collection comprising groceries confectionery, sacks of flour and sugary cases of whisky and schnapps, tobacco, etc., the property of the New Zealand. Railways. The goods comprised cases stolen while in transit between local warehouses and country stores. Basil Goodwin Breeze, aged 19, employed in the station-master’s office, and George Delvin Byford, aged 44, of the Public Works , Department, were charged with stealing on November ] 3 three cases of groceries, a case of nails, two bags of sugar, one bag of flour, three cases of whisky, and one case,of schnapps, of a total value of £SO; aiso with stealing on' October 8 groceries valued at £36, both being the property of the New Zealand Railways. The goods, which were sent to the railway 1 station, were left in trucks all night, and were missing when the train arrived at their intended destination that day. After a lengthy hearing, Breeze pleaded and was committed for sentence. Bylord - pleaded not’: guilty, and was committed. for trial. Breeze was further charged with stealing bed linen from a local hotel. He pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence. Byford was charged with receiving a portion of the jewellery and a portion of the bed linen, knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained. He pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court; for trial. Bail was fixed at one. surety for £250 in his own recognisan'ce and one surety of £250 or two of £125.