THEFT FROM WHARE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13176, 7 February 1936, Page 4

THEFT FROM WHARE.

RAILWAY EMPLOYEE CHARGED. RECENT pahiatua happening On November 29th a theft was committed near the Pahiatua railway station and the incident had its sequel when a railway guard found a bundle of notes wedged behind a water-filter on the N apier express, Samuel Allen, a labourer employed by the Railway Department, being committed to the Supreme Court for tidal, after appearing before Mr J. C*. L. Hewitt, S.M., in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court. He entered a plea of not guilty to the charge o\ stealing a pocket-book and banknotes, valued at £l2 os, the property of Joseph Henry Hill. Hill, a fitter employed by New Zealand Railways, stated that he was working at Pahiatua, and was living alone in a whare in the station yard. On the morning of November 2.9, he tidied up the whare and left his wallet underneath the mattress of the bed. The wallet contained, among other things, seven £1 notes and one £o note. Hater the wallet and its contents were missing. Edward Blyth said that he was the guard in charge of the Wairarapa express on the day the money was missed. On the arrival of the train at Masterton he was asked by the police if there were any railway carpenters in the train. On leaving Masterton he went through the train to check all tickets. He asked accused what the police wanted him for. Allen replied that Hill had lost money and that the detectives had searched him. At the Summit, witness went through the train again, to put out the lights. Allen asked him exactly where the carriages were taken at night. A few minutes later he went through into the first-class car lavatory. where lie had previously washed his hands. Immediately witness followed, and watched for the reflection of the far door being opened. He went into the lavatory and made a search, which resulted in his finding a bundle of notes, tied with twine, pushed behind the water filter. Witness had to use a wire to get the notes out. Detective-Sergeant E. C. Jerrold, prosecuting, produced these notes, four of which Hill identified as his. Appearing foa* accused. Mr E. D. Blundell said that the case was based entirely on circumstantial evidence, which had to be complete if a conviction was to be entered. No evidence had been brought that accused had entered Hill’s hut, and nothing incriminating had been found when he was searched at Masterton.