GUILTY OF RECEIVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 14

GUILTY OF RECEIVING.

TRIAL OF TAXI.DRIVER.

MISSING INGOTS OF TIN.

REMAND MADE FOR SENTENCE.

Upon the question of who was the driver of a dark green motor-car, numbered 1061, which was in St. George's Bay Road, Parnell, on the evening of February 24, hinged an important point in the trial in the Supreme Court yesterday, of Arthur Frederick Griffin, taxi-driver, who was charged with the theft of five ingots of tin, valued at £lO, the property of Alexander H&rvey and Sons, Limited. There was an alternative charge of receiving the tin, knowing it to be stolen. The case was heard before Sir. Justice Ilerdman. Mr. Hubble prosecuted, and Mr. Matthews appeared for accused. Evidence was given by Lindsay Anderson, manager of the Farmers' Auctioneering Company's store, that on the evening of February 24 he was working late, and on looking out of a window saw a car standing outside a vacant section on the opposite side of the road. There was one man in the car and another was carrying a burden to a bush in the section. Witness noticed tho number of tho car. which was 1061.

In reply to Mr. Matthews, witness said lie took particular notice of the car's number, because of the behaviour of the men, which ho thought was suspicious. Arthur R. Lowe, labourer, gavo similar evidence. Ho had also noted the number of the car.

William Harvey, of Alexander Harvey and Sons, Limited, identified the ingots as having been mado in the moulds of his firm. On taking stock last March it was found that ingots to the pxtent of or tons werp missing. There were no other moulds similar to those of his firm in Auckland. William Caple, who is at present serving a sentence of three months in connection with theft from the same premises, said he broke into Harvey's factory about the third week in February, In order to enter the building he " got over the roof." using a key to go out. The ingots were taken to an empty section and left there for a time, afterwards being taken away in a car which, he understood, belonged to Griffin. Griffin was present on at least one occasion when the tin had been removed. Evidence as to the finding of five ingots of tin in proximity to Griffin's garage was given by Detective Robertson and Constable Davis. Griffin said he could not explain the presence of the tin. He had not taken out the car on the evening of Febraury 24, but he had a friendly arrangement with a man named Tait, who was allowed the use of the car. ' James Tait, taxi-driver, said he could not say whether he had Griffin's car on February 24 or not, as he kept no records, but he had never driven a car to St. George's Bay Road and removed tin. The defence called Mrs. N. Thompson, with whom accused boarded. She stated Griffin went home at about 6.30 p.m. on February 24. It was not his habit to go out again on account of a consumptive cough he had. She remembered the evening of February 24, because Griffin had given her a newspaper, and had told her to read a certain article. The paper was dated February 24. Mr. Matthews, in addressing the jury, contended it would be dangerous to convict Griffin on Caplo's evidence, which had varied on several occasions.

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty of stealing but guilty of receiving. Prisoner was remanded until Monday for sentence.