CHEAP CREPE DE CHINE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11653, 18 October 1923, Page 6

CHEAP CREPE DE CHINE

THEFTS FROM WAREHOUSE FIRM’S CARRIER COMMITTED* FOR TRIAL. SOLD AT £3 10s PER BOX. Tli© alleged theft of five rolls of crepe-de-chine valued at £SO. the property of Makower and Mcßeath and Company. Ltd., warehousemen, of Victoria street, resulted in the appearance in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Messrs R. D. Hanlon and I. S. Roualdson, Justices of the Peace, of a young carrier named Edmund Robinson. Accused had to face an alternative charge of receiving the material from J. Porte rush aw J an ex-employee of the complainant firm. Detective Sergeant Cameron conducted the case for the police, while Mr W. E. Leicester appeared for the accused, Robinson. ACCUSED AND EMPLOYEES. In opening the case for the prosecution, Detective Sergeant Cameron stated that Robinson Wits a carrier employed by Makower and Beath, Ltd, warehousemen, of Victoria street, to whom the goods belonged. Accused had made representations to two youths employed in the warehouse to steal the goods, saying he would dispose of them and give them a share of the money. The youths had done so, and accused had disposed of the crepo-de-ehine for a small sum. A good deal of the silk had been recovered from the people who bought it. The detective stated that- the two youths in question, Bertenshaw and had appeared at the Magistrate's Court a few days ago, and had pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing the goods. They had been granted probation, and the police proposed to call them as Witnesses for the prosecution.

THEFT OP THE CREPE-DE-CHINE. Henry Gordon Donaldson stated that ho had had a conversation with accused about three months ago, when accused told him he could get rid of some crepe-de-chine if witness could get it for him. Witness said that he would see what he could do. He then took one box of crepe-de-chine and gave it to Bertenshaw, who was to give it to Robin-son, For this witness received 15s from Bertenshaw. Witness stated that he took another box of crepe-de-chine a few days la.ter, and again gave it to Bertenshaw, who gave him another los some time after. CHEAP MATERIAL.

Three more boxes of crepe-de-chine were given to Bertenshaw by witness, who received £1 for the first two, but nothing for the third. Bertenshaw was employed; in the packing room, while he, witness, was employed in the warehouse, which was in the 6ame building as the packing room, but separated.

Is reply to a question, witness stated that he -only cam© into touch with Robinson outside the fettfldla*. Jack Bertenshaw gave evidence on similar lines to that of the last witness. CREPE DE CHINE SOLD. Airs McKee stated that she lived at Orawiord terrace. Robinson, whom |r!io had known for about four years, •had called at her residence several times. lOn one occasion accused asked witness if she could do with some crepe de [chine which he had with him. Ac- ! cused wanted £4 for the box of crepe de ohino. but she gave him £3 lots for it, fclie money being paid a week later. Robinson made another call at the house, bringing with him two boxes of crepe do chine, which witness bought for £7 10s. A third visit requited in witness buying another box for £3 15s. On every occasion when , witness had bought the crepe de chine her niece, Mrs Edmonds, had been present. When accused paid another visit witness wag out shopping with her niece, hut on their return they found a box of crepe de cliino had been left by accused. That was on October 6th, and on the following Monday, October Bth, witness ©aw Robinson and gave him £3 15s in payment for the fourth box. A few day© later Detectives Jar Told and McLennan visited her house, and she handed over to them the remainder of the crepe do chine.

“I asked Robinson, if he had obtained the goods honestly/* said witness, “and he said ‘yee’.” Mr Leicester (for the defence): When the detective© -interviewed you, Mr* McKee, didn’t you say you had bought the crepe do chine from a man named Sharper—" Witness did not answer the question. ■ “BOUGHT IN THE COUNTRY.”

Glndvfi Phoebe Edmonds corroborated the evidence given by the last witness. Coma-el for tho defence "briefly cro-ss-jtnearained the witness. Counsel: Did you inform tho detectives that the crepe do chine had been purchased from variants places in the country?—l did. j Do you know if your aunt told the detective* that the goods had been bought from a man named Sharpe?—l do not

Did you ever get any crepe de chine from the country?—My aunt received a parcel from the country, but as far I know there was no crepe in it. Then your statement about buying the orepe from the country was incorrect? •—lt was • .John William Edmonds, husband of fhe previous witness, also gave e\ idencs. WORTH £lO A BOX.

Eric Pickering Eiaws, a warehouseman employed by Makower and Mcßeath, Stated that tho crepe de chine produced in court was identical with the kind of crepe imported by his firm. The wholesale price of each box was £lO. Detective Jarrold also gave evidence to tho effect that he interviewed Mrs McKee. He arrested accused next day, and at the detective office, wlion told that tho principal witness had said that he had sold the crepe, accused denied ever haring done so. This closed the caso for the police. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed.