CHARGES OF THEFT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 4 February 1944, Page 4

CHARGES OF THEFT

FORMER EMPLOYEE OF STATE DEPARTMENT Wellington. This Day Part of the Crown allegations in a theft case in the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday, was that accused had endeavoured to sell an electric drill to the firm which in the first place had supplied it to the Government department by whom accused was then employed. Accused was Louis Taihoa Wilson Smith, 32. wireless teacher (Mr A. J. Mazengarb). He pleaded not guilty to stealing, while a servant of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department (radio development laboratory branch. electrical equipment valued at £lB, and an electric drill valued at £l4. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr W. H. J Cunningham, said that accused offered to sell an electric drill, in new condition to Morris, Black and Matheson, Limited. The manager. Keith Albert Hanson, checked the serial number of the drill and fouhd it to be one of a number his firm had recently sold to a Government department. The inquiries then made led to accused's presence in Court. Interviewed, he said he took the drill to get a price on it. He denied there was any Government property at his home, but a search revealed the electrical equipment detailed in the first charge. It was for the jury to decide whether accused took the goods as a thief or, in some way, innocontly. Detective J. H. Alty said accused maintained that he took the drill to the firm to have it valued, as he wanted to get a similar one for himself. He said also that bulbs found at his home were given to him by a person whose name ho declined to furnish, and that he took the other articles home for Experimental purposes. He had raised no objection to a search of his home, which was done without warrant, and been quite frank throughout. . The Crown case has concluded. Th* defence will open this morning.