RAILWAYMAN'S THEFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18611, 19 January 1924, Page 11

RAILWAYMAN'S THEFT.

CASE OF BENZINE » STOLEN. ENGINE ; CREW IN TROUBLE. FIREMAN ;; SENT■;; TO GAOL. ;■;'' The theft of a case !of benzine from the : Takanini Railway Station resulted in v the appearance. at the Police Court yesterday, before -Mr. ; J. -W. ; Poynton, 3.M., of' two , employees ~of the Railways Department, John Walter; Johnson, ?. : fireman, And, : Claude Huckstep, an engine-driver. Mr. J. J. Sullivan appeared for both the accused...-' ; ■• ' r.\ ,'• , • "' -... ' Thomas Henry ' Sandford, a»clerk employed, in 'the railway • goods office, who. resides at' Takanini, stated that,' on December 5, three cases of benzine were delivered at '- the Takanini Railway Station, to his order. . When he went to take delivery-at. the station, on the following day, one case was missing. The loss .was reported to the police, who discovered that a train in charge of the two accused had stopped at the station upon the evening on which the theft was committed: Johnson admitted _ taking the benzine and using it in his motor-car. He alleged that Huckstep had assisted him to lift the case from the .station platform. • ; . ' ' u . - •/ Gross-examined by Senior-Detective Hammond, the witness Sandford proved distinctly'hostile, to the police, and said that he thought that he may have given Johnson permission to take the benzine. Detective Hammond (to. witness): You have been paid 'by Johnson for the benzine he stole from you, and now you want to' withdraw the prosecution? Detective Hammond: You also sent. a letter to the inspector of police, complaining that thieving was very . prevalent on the railway stations, and asking why the person who■■ stole your petrol had hot been apprehended ?— suppose I was .a bit hasty. • '■ . ~- ,' : ;../;.;■' Detective Hammond. you make a big. fuss with your letters to the police and the Railway Department, and now. . your loss is made good you don't want to proceed.' . .'"■■' '■■■'.'..-:, • .-' In answer to a question from Detective Hammond, Johnson said that his former admission of the theft was incorrect, and that Sandford -had authorised him: to take one case of benzine. ■■'"';' -'■.';' : The Magistrate: It is no use him saying that. He admitted the offence and signed a statement ■; ;■' ■; Johnwn: I was flurried when I made my statement to the detective.. .. • Mr. Sullivan submitted that Huckstep could not be involved in the charge,, as he had not been aware that the benzine was missing until the following dav. . , The. Magistrate: It is a serious offence for railwaymcn- to steal.- Johnson will be sentenced to one, month's imprisonment, and Huckstep will be discharged; under Section 92 of the Justices of the Peace Act. ; It' was a ; technical theft on the part of Huckstep. ■: On the - application/ of : Mr. Snllivan security to appeal in the case of Johnson was fixed at £50. " : ■•:>\\.-_\ ■■, j