Charges Against Tank Truck Driver

Northern Advocate, 4 August 1949, Page 3

Charges Against Tank Truck Driver

AUCKLAND, Thu. (Sp.)— Further witnesses for the Crown were heard yesterday in support of the charges against Jack Crutchley, 24, a motor driver, of stealing 455 gallons of petrol from the Atlantic Union Oil Company and of fraudulently obtaining a cheque valued at £35. Accused had been a driver of one of the Atlantic Union's petrol wagons for about three years, and the Crown alleged that he had stolen up to about 10,000 gallons of petrol, although only two specific charges have been laid. Called by the Crown, a nightwatchman employed by the Atlantic Union Oil Company, Bertram Sharp, said that if a driver on returning declared a back-haul—that was, that he still had petrol in his wagon—the watchman usually dipped the wagon to test the exact amount. TAKEN FOR GRANTED If the driver declared no back-haul, they never dipped his truck and took it for granted the tank was empty. They did not make an entry on the form if the driver said he had no backhaul. Witness continued that accused had always declared an empty wagon to him, and so witness had had no figures to enter.

If a driver declared a back-haul, witness always dipped. Another Atlantic Union Oil Company nightwatchman, Archibald Ogilvie, said that since last Christmas accused had not declared any backhaul to him. A third nightwatchman of the company, Thomas William Casson, said accused rarely brought any petrol back. CLERK’S EVIDENCE Edward Albert Field, clerk, employed by the Atlantic Union Oil Company, said that accused’s reports for December 16 and 17 last showed a back-haul of 255 gallons in the No. 3 compartment. No petrol was shown to be in the compartment on December 17, and that appeared to be an irregularity that was not discovered at the time. Accused’s sales for December 17 did not show any sign of 255 gallons in No. 3 compartment. If they had, the figures would not have balanced. There was an occasion on which accused was 205 gallons short just before his dismissal. (Proceeding.)