PETROL STOLEN

Southland Times, Issue 20494, 24 May 1928, Page 11

PETROL STOLEN

RIMU MAN BEFORE COURT CHARGE OF THEFT. Alexander Thomas Agnew, a married man, and a farmer in the Rimu district, appeared before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday morning on a charge of breaking and entering the premises of Herman Bulling at Rimu on Sunday last and stealing three gallons of petrol. He was represented by Mr Gordon Reed. Detective-Sergeant Hewitt said that on Sunday last in the afternoon accused was driving in an old motor car with another man w'hen they ran out of petrol. Accused, who was under the influence of liquor, went away to get some petrol. When he reached Bulling’s store he had tried to get in by kicking the door and removing two boards from the wall. The marks of the kicks on the door coincided with the police measurements of accused’s boots. He had then gained admittance by a door which he alleged was not locked, and had drawn off some petrol without using a measure, thus spilling a great quantity over the floor and endangering the premises. The Magistrate: If he had been smoking he may have caused a fire. When a man has a few drinks he is usually smoking. Detective-Sergeant Hewitt: Accused does not smoke, your Worship. He went on to say that accused could not get his car to start after he had taken the petrol, and it was in consequence of the car being found outside the store that accused was arrested. On the application of Detective-Sergeant Hewitt, the case was adjourned till June 2 and Agnew was released on his own recognisance of £5O, until investigations were sufficiently complete to proceed with the charge.