THEFT OF BENZINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17730, 15 March 1921, Page 6

THEFT OF BENZINE.

.». EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS. , FOUR MEN PLEAD GUILTY. , An extensive series of thefts of benzine from A. S. Paterson and Co.'s, Ltd., oil bond store. Freeman's Bay, was revealed in the Police Court yesterday during the hearing of charges against four men. [ Messrs. W. J. Holdsworth. W. Harkins, [ and C. W. Greenwood, J.P.'s, were on • the Bench. The total amount involved 1 was over £195, being the value of 226 tins. Mr. Moody appeared for accused. John Brumel Donovan, James Archer, Edward Clark, and George Porter were . charged with having stolen 28 tins of : benzine valued at £23 9s, on March 8. 1 Donovan, Clark, and Archer were .also t charged with the theft of 38 tins, valued at £32 14s 6d, on January 19. Donovan ! was further charged with having stolen, > between December and January, 160 tins, valued at £129 19s, there being five charges. [ William C. Morris, superintendent - storeman at the bond store, said Clark ■ and Archer were storemen employed by ; his film. Neither had any authority to sell or remove benziue. Donovan and Porter were strangers to him. Some of the 28 tins at the police station were reconditioned. They had come from his store. Three carters gave evidence to the effect that on March 8 Donovan offered to sell benzine, of which he had 28 tins in a stable in Graham Street, at 25s a tin. Ralph Edward Halford, manager of Wilson's Express Company, said he took over the business in December from a Mr. Bagnall, who, he understood, was now in Australia. From entries in the book produced, and from what, he had been told by his predecessor, he was satisfied he could buy benzine from Donovan, who was employed by tho firm. He spoke to accused about procuring benzine, taking it for granted that the previous dealings by Mr. Bagnall had been thoroughly investigated. Accused said he could procure any quantity required. On Decem- , ber 22 accused delivered 16 cases to the ! firm's Graham Street stables, being paid £24, or 30s a case. On various occasions he paid accused for deliveries of benzine. ■ Later, as it did not pay, he told Donovan no more was required. Accused left the , firm's employ shortly afterwards. The 28 tins of benzine found in the firm's stables on March 8 was not the property of the firm, nor had it been put there by clients. He knew nothing about it. The account in the book produced showed that benzine to the value of £210 10s had been purchased by the firm from Donovan , since November 1, 1920. Detective Knight said that when interviewed on -March 8 the four accused signed statements which he produced. Accused had given every assistance to the police. Accused pleaded guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court for sen- , tene'e. Bail was allowed.