THEFT ALLEGED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26783, 28 May 1948, Page 2

THEFT ALLEGED

RAILWAY ROOFING IRON DECISION DEFERRED UNTIL TO-DAY Alter lengthy evidence had been heard, Mr J. D. Willis, S.M., in the City Police Court yesterday, postponed until this morning his decision in the case in which John Henry Tisdall, a rabbiter, aged 33. of Middlemarch, was charged with the theft of 20 sheets of galvanised roofing iron, valued at £ls 16s Bd, the property of the New Zealand Railways. The accused, who was represented by Mr W. J. Meade, pleaded not guilty. Chief Detective Hall conducted the prosecution. The accused was ordered to remain in custody. Frederick James Driver, a concrete products manufacturer, of Middlemarcn, said that some time in September last the accused called at his home and asked him for the loan of a truck in order to collect roofing iron from Palmerston. Witness undertook to drive the truck himself for £2, and this offer was accepted The iron was loaded at Palmerston. To Mr Meade, witness said that the iron had not been concealed in any way, as the loaded truck had been left in the main street while witness and the accused had a meal. Henry Francis Edwards, foreman of the maintenance department of the New Zealand Railways, said that on March 25 u quantity of roofing iron had been consigned to William George Marr, at that time a plumber employed by the department at Kartigi. Evidence was given by William George Marr that prior to September, 1947, he had been repairing the roofs of houses in Palmerston for the Railways Department. There were 20 sheets of iron over. Witness said he met the acused at Middlemarch and Tisdall told him that he had had difficulty in obtaining iron for a house he was building. Witness told him that he knew where there was some iron, and he gave the accused a note in order to obtain delivery. There was no suggestion of payment for the iron. “I thought I would just help him out of nis difficulty." witness explained. Witness did not toll Tisdall who owned the iron. To the magistrate, witness said that the shed in which the iron was stored was alongside the Railway Station at Palmerston. Tlte accused had assumed that the iron was a gift. His earnings were about £8 a week at the time. To Mr Meade, witness said that he had pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing the George Hughen. a builder, of Middlemarch, explained that he had been carrying out extensions to the accused's house. The accused told him not to worry about roofing iron, as he had obtained some. Witness used half of the 20 sheets and made the accused an allowance for the remainder. To Mr Meade, witness said that the accused bore an excellent reputation in the district for honesty. Evidence concerning inquiries he had made into the theft of iron and interviews he had had with the accused was given by Detective C. G. Evans. Mr Meade, addressing the court, submitted that the evidence was not suthcient to establish that the accused had stolen the iron. Counsel emphasised tliat the accused had collected the iron in an open manner, as the truck had been left standing in the main street in Palmerston for some time. The magistrate commented that it was stretching the credulity of the court to a breaking point to suggest that the iron was a gift from a man in Marr s circumstances. ~ The accused's evidence was to tne erfect that he had no knowledge of the ownership of the iron when he acquiied it. Marr told him that he did not want any payment. , . .. „ Mr Meade said that whatever the outcome of the case, the accused certainly did not intend making any profit out of the transaction.

James Mason in a scene from the unusual Two Cities drama Odd Man Out” which was listed on almost every “10 best films” selection of the 1947 production season, and has been chosen to head the programme for the opening of the new Century Theatre. “ Odd Man Out ” is one of a series of “ prestige films ” which will be shown locally within coming months and with which the British studios are making a determined drive on the world film market. Others of the group are “ Stairway to Heaven,” ‘’Captain Boycott,’ ‘ The Brothers,” “ Holiday Camp, ‘ • So Well Remembered,” “Jassy,” ‘The Upturned Glass,” and “ Bush Christmas.” The first screening at the Century Theatre will take place this evening.