BENZINE STOLEN AND SOLD.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1444, 24 July 1933, Page 5

BENZINE STOLEN AND SOLD.

THEFT AT ARAPUNI. • Storeman Pleads Guilty. A storeman employed by the Public Works Department at Arapuni, Walter John Baskiville, pleaded guilty in the Putaruru Police Court on Wednesday, before Messrs. K. McDermott and H. J. W. Scott, J.’sP., jto a charge that on various dates between April 1 and July 2 he stole 568 gallons of benzine and 43 gallons of lubricating oil to the ■value of £55 19s 2d, the property of the Public Works Department.

Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was refused and accused was transferred to Auckland in custody.

Evidence was given by W. J. T. Wigg, an inspecting officer in the employ of the Public Works Department, that accused had been in the employ of the department for the past nine years. Accused had been stationed at Arapuni for the past 2.1 years as a temporary storekeeper. Part of the duty of accused was to issue and record stores of benzine and. oils. The department had a benzine bowser near the main office. Employees of the department obtained their supplies of benzine on requisition from this bowser, and accused had been in | charge of the issue of benzine. “ The procedure of the department,” said witness, “is to order from the oil company a certain

quantity of benzine. When the man with the tank-lorry arrives a measure is taken of the tank, a certain

quantity put in, and the tank again

measured. The department pays for >.the difference. On the receipt of the oil it was the duty of accused to

sign a receipt for the benzine. The department’s mechanical overseer or other officers would prepare requisitions for benzine for certain vehicles, and accused would supply the benzine and obtain a receipt for that benzine. Accused would enter .various requisitions into his day book, and post the day book entries to the stock ledger card which showed the quantities received and issued and balance in hand.

“ I examined the requisition and compared them with the day book entries and the entries on the stock ledger card,” continued witness, “and found that alterations had been made in the requisitions and in the day books and in the cards as well. These alterations showed that the documents had been altered by increasing the quantities of benzine requisitioned for and issued.

' . “ Accused was suspended on July 8. On July 11 I questioned him regarding this matter, and he admitted that he had altered the documents and books and had stolen the benzine and oil, - but he did not think the quantity was as great as shown, but he would accept my figtires. r "

“ Questioned as ’to what he had jdone with the benzine and oil' Stolen, accused said he had sold it to some people in Arapuni and surrounding districts. Later on he Said that he had not sold it to any officers of the department'. He had sold it for Is a gallon and had not made £lB out of it. He admitted taking benzine in eight gallon ilrums and hiding it in a tool shed &t the back of the store. He refused to divulge the names of anybody to iyhom he had sold it. He told me he liad not been in good health, and that he had been drinking pretty heavily about that time.”

»Vln reply to Mr. Lochhead (who appeared for accused), witness said accused had been a good officer as far as he ; knew, having good reports. Accused had no right to ■Supply without requisition. Accused had made it clear that there was no other officer under suspicion. “He told me,” added witness, “ that he had promised his wife that he would not divulge the names of the persons to whom he had supplied the . benzine.”

An allowance of 2 per cent, for wastage had been 'made in witness’ statement. A daily test since accused left showed that the wastage Was within 2 per cent.

Constable J. F. Murphy, of Putaruru, who interviewed accused at [Arapuni on July 13, said accused had admitted that he had stolen henzine and oil * from the department. When questioned as to where he had disposed of the stolen property accused refused to tell what he had done with it. He gave the same explanation as he had given Jo the previous witness for not disclosing the name of the person to flThom the benzine was supplied.