UNUSUAL THEFT CHARGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18685, 15 April 1924, Page 7

UNUSUAL THEFT CHARGE.

TOOK HIS WAGES TWICE.

COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL

A'; charge of tthfl theft of- £5 10s, the | property of ■<■ his employer, = was preferred ' at the Police Court yesterday before Mr. J. W. Poynton, v &M., against ;,, Harcld Tiemey,.aged 25 (Mr. Sullivan). ; John Trewheela, motor bus propnetor, stated that he had employed accused as a: lorry, driver for some weeks., On "a ■ recent Friday, witness paid accused" £5 16s as his earnings for the week. On the following day, witness' tforPaeroaJ' and gave £5; 10s-to another employee, ; <s.' ,, r Stokes, instructing him to pay 5 the money to another driver. - • • :" ]■ "'■'

& Evidence was given by Stokes to the effect that he received ii the money from ! Trewheela : in » hurry * and j misunderstood ] the' instructions, being \ .under the impres- ( sion that the money was ; for Tierney. % He asked i accused ; if >he had f been - paid, - and received; a reply in the negative, • The money was then paid ,to accused. „, : . When Trewheela heard that the money had been paid to \ Tierney, ■' he went; to accused's home and found- his own motor lorry standing in the street. Accused had j no authority tQusift the lorry at that time. Tierney -; admitted having , v received ;. the. £5 10s, and said "Stokes had no right to give' it to jne." ' "^7?■■'■':■:-'■■• '■ >*.* -~\ Mr. Sullivan submitted that the circumstances did not constitute theft. vv-,; m >\ The magistrate held that a case had been. .'established, and accused thereupon pleaded not guilty, and was committed to' the Supreme "Court for .trial;;,: Bail v was allowed .at.£loo. •' / ,