MISSING BENZINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10966, 30 July 1921, Page 9

MISSING BENZINE

TAXI-DRIVER CHARGED THE WATOHMM, THE MOTOR-CAR, AND THE WOMAN. QUESTION OF IDENTIFICATION. A man named George Waddle came b©“ fore Mr F- K. Hunt, in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of stealing four cases of benzine to the total value of J&, the property of C. and A. Odiin Timber Company..' The oSence was alleged to have been committed on or about July 13th. Evidence was given by Stanley Odiin, manager of the timber department of the firm of Odiin and Co., Ltd., that on July 13th he took a check of the benzine in the store. There were (hen fourteen and a half oases in stock. Acting on somethin# told him he again checked the benzine the following day, and discovered that there were only lli cases in the store.

To Mr Sievwright:' The benzine store was situated at the rear of another of the firm's buildings. The door was always kept looked. There were only three keys to the store. One of these wa ® held by witness, another by a eeoona member of the firm, and the other by the night-watchman (Williams). It would be necessary for a person to have an intimate knowledge of the building in order to take the benzine. _ Henry G. Williams, the night-watch-man, stated that he was proceeding home on the night in question when, on passing the building, his attention was attracted by the opening of a door. Oo investigating he found a light inside. He communicated with .the police, and while waiting ior their arrival he noticed a motor-car pull up outside the dooi; of the building.- He noticed two men : with a tin of benzine each. They cai-j ried it to the car, where a woman heldj the door of the car open for them. The} car then proceeded, and witness not stop the car. The police constable arrived later. Witness said he took pai> ticular notice that the number of the car was W\N. 118. He identified the driver of the car in Cuba street on July 15th. The accused was the man he jhad identified. . The car had peculiarities} which rendered it conspicuous. He had/ seen the car two days after the disappearance of the benzine. . . _ Detective Rovell said he interviews the accused on July 15th. The man dfrj nied atl knowledge of the occurrence. ; Andrews corroborate ed the evidence. ~ . . * On opening the defence Mr Sievwngnt raised the Question of identification• it was imperative, he said, that the identity should be fully established before a conviction was entered. The defendant could have been the victim, of any upscrupulous person using a similar car and putting the defendant's number on it- The defendant, in the box,, said he was a taxi-driver by occupation, and had been so employed for nine or ten year’s. Ho was a married man with five children. Witness denied being in the vicjnitv of Taranaki street on the night in question. . ... Arthur Turnbull, also a taxi-dnver, said he was in company with Waddle at about • 10.30 p.m. on the night _in question. Waddle's car ‘ was an clufashioned make, but there were others like it. , , , . As His Worship expressed a desire to see the motor-car, the case was adjourned till 9.45 this morning.