THEFT OF WHEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26771, 14 May 1948, Page 3

THEFT OF WHEAT

TWO MEN PLEAD GUILTY CITY POLICE COURT CASE The theft of 63 sacks of wheat, valued at £B3 9s 6d, the property of the New Zealand Government, was admitted by James Alexander Stevenson, a wharf labourer, aged 35 (Mr C. J. L. White), and John Walker, a painter, aged 28 (Mr J. G. Warrington), in the City Police Court yesterday before Mr J. D. Willis, S.M. The accused pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Stanley Jewiss, district manager of the Otago Wheat Committee, said that on April 29 last the ship Inchwells was discharging 70,776 'bags of wheat at the Birch street wharf. The wheat had been bought in Australia by the New Zealand Government. Witness had examined 63 sacks of wheat in a place in South Dunedin, and he had identified it as Australian wheat. Hugh Albert Brockie, a cartage contractor, said the accused Walker had been engaged by witness to cart wheat from the Jnchwells to the flour mill and store of Hall and Co. Walker had no authority to take the wheat to any other destination.

Detective Sergeant R- J. A. Berry said that on May 4 last he called at the home of the accused Stevenson. Witness told him that he was making inquiries into the alleged theft of wheat from the Inchwells, which had been stacked in his yard. Later witness saw Walker, who admitted the theft. The accused added that he had received £3O as his share of the sale of the wheat. He then handed witness a £lO note, stating that this was all that was left of the £3O. The following morning Stevenson also made a statement about the theft. One of the 63 bags of wheat had not been recovered, and the accused explained that the bag had been damaged, and that he had given the salvaged wheat to his fowls.