Two Months' Gaol For Benzine Theft At Kaitaia

Northern Advocate, 28 May 1941, Page 2

Two Months' Gaol For Benzine Theft At Kaitaia

Alan Alexander Graham and William Mullally, barmen, of Kaitaia, were charged before Messrs J. T. E. TafTe and W. Williams, J.Fs.. at the Police Court, Kaitaia, on Tuesday, with stealing one gallon of petrol, valued at 2/10, the property of M. H. Robb, hairdresser. In his evidence, M. H Robb stated that he garaged his cai in a building close to his own residence in Redan Road, and on the opposite side of the road. On Sunday morning, at 11.30, he heard a door at the garage slam, and wont over. The two accused were standing beside his car. The cap was off the benzine tank, and benzine was spilt all round the car. He asked the men where the cap of the benzine tank was, and one of them replied. “Have you lost your cap?” He then picked up the cap from the front seat of the car.

The men had a tube and a tin, into which the petrol had been syphoned. They denied at first that they had taken the benzine, but later admitted the offence, and one of them said they had been a couple of fools. Constable Agnew stated that he interviewed the accused at 6.10 p.m. on Monday. They were taken to the watch house, and on being questioned denied having taken any petrol. They said they went to get some but there was none there. Neither made any written statement. Mr. Taaffe said the accused would be convicted. The bench was satisfied that they did steal the benzine. Sergeant Simister said that thefts of this kind were fairly common throughout New Zealand and detection was very difficult. Both men were strangers to the district, and had only been in Kaitaia two months. Both had been receiving a reasonable wage and there was no excuse for the theft. They said they were drunk at the time Mr. Taaffe. in stressing the seriousness of the charge, said the rationing of benzine was purely a war effort and it was a particularly mean kind of theft to steal any part of a man’s small allowance. Each of the accused would be convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment in the Auckland gaol.