ALLEGED THEFT OF ROPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17100, 4 March 1919, Page 5

ALLEGED THEFT OF ROPE.

«> TWO MEN CHARGED. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. A charge that, at Auckland, on or about January 23, they stole one coil of wire rope, valued at £124 12s, the property of tho Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, Ltd., was preferred against Sydney M. Clark, who was in the employ of the company as timekeeper for about seven years, and John Dunn, for seven and ahalf years foreman stevedore of ths company, before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday. Mr. Allan Moody appeared for both accused, and Chief-Detective McMahos prosecuted. ; Evidence was given that on January 22 tho accused called at Messrs. Long and Ormisiton'a store with reference to the sale by them of a coil of wire- ropo at 2* per pound, of 415 pounds, and valued at 6» 6d per pound. In answer to a question as to whether the rope had been obtained honestly, Clark said: "It is quite all right." On the following day a carrier named Robinson went to the Shaw. Sftvill, and Albion Company's storo in resoonse to a telephone message, and saw Dunn and another man. These two placed the wire rope on his van, and, in company with Dunn, Robinson delivered tho rope to Long and Ormislton's, where Mr. Lovie, a partner of the firm, wrote out a cheque for £41 10s in Robinson's name. The latter Bigued a receipt, Subsequently the ropo was sold to the Kauri Timber Company for £72 12s 6d less a discount of £1 16s jd. The rope was similar to that used on the liner Suevic,' which was in port about the date of the alleged offence. There should have been two similar lines on the vessel, but when a search was made at Port Chalmers only i one was discovered. _ I Mr. Moody, for tho defence, elicited from the chief officer of the Sue vie that the two coils of rope in .question were supposed to have been placed on the ship at Liverpool in March last, but they might not havo been put on board. Even if they had been, one might have been taken away months ago at London. Nothinc bad been reported missing prior ! to the search. I Mr. Moody submitted that on the evidence there was no case for a jury, • and asked that the charges be dismissed, j The magistrate held that there was no, evidence that the rope was stolen from the company named in the information, or that ft liad been dishonestly obtained, and ho therefore dismissed both informations. John Dunn was further charged with that, on or about January 17, he stole a quantity of wiro ropo and 25 hinges, of a total value of £3. tho property of somo •person or persons unknown. The evidence tendered was similar to that in the first charge, in that the property was sold to Messrs. Long and ' Ormiston, but the magistrate dismissed the charge on tho ground that there was ; no evidence of theft, in that it was equally . consistent that tho goods had been como | by honestly as dishonestly. j The police then asked leave to swear, a fresh information against both accused in | 'respect to the first charge, •so that tho allocation was to the effect that the coil of rope was stolen from some person it J nersons unknown. This was granted, and i (the same evidence again tendered. i Mr. Moody submitted that tho police were asking the magistrate to go back on j his former, decision. There was no evi-: dence that anything had been stolen, so ; that counsel considered there was no case | toi a jury. Mr. Wilson said he thought the men had a case to answer on the amended chareo. The accused then pleaded not guilty, reserved their defence, and were committed for trial. Bail was allowed each in £100, or one surety of £100. ]