HARDLY "RECEIVING."

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14278, 19 August 1910, Page 2

HARDLY "RECEIVING."

BVYJLNG SMALL BOYS. The curiously-worded replies of aa elderly man in the witness box at ths Timaru Court yesterday frequently caused laughter among those ill the, body oi tii-e building, and on several' occasions the Court orderly had to demand "silence.'' The charge was preferred against William Howens that on July :23rd at Waimataitai he received from three boys two kerosene tins oi' Jul and a haiio-trucK. vaiueo. au £'l 8s Gd, knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained. Howens was defended by Mr Walter Shaw, and pleadted not guilty. Evidence was given by David Smith, owner of the stolen property, and by the three boys who were recently before the Juvenile Court where they were convicted of the theft of these articles. The lads said that How-ens asked them no questions when they took the fat to him, and that they told him that they had got the fat at home. —Constable -McLean said that he had spoken to the accused about the affair and Howens said it was no business of his to ask the boys where they got the fat. Accused then went into the box and said that it had been . his practice for years to bi.y iai, from bo\:- who v. co sent by their parents, and in this case he paid the lads the usual price lid per lb. Accused was subjected ro a lengthy cross-examination by Sub-In-spector Green, who houever was critically questioned in his turn, and two or three times, the Magistrate 1 ad to advise Howens to give direct icplies. ''People all round the district send me fat" he said "and 1 give them lid per lb for it. Yes 1 get more than that for it when I export it, but I don't think I should have to say what. One quarter I made £SOU, but the price goes up and down like that (accused moved his arms about suiting the action of his words), and I am quite right in trying to make a profit. Neither you or I, sub-inspector would stay in a place where, we could not make a profit. Oh! those are not the answers your \vant; J (Jo on then." Evido'.K-i" was then git on by several witnesses who said that it was their custom to sell fat to Mr Howcils at odd times. In dismissing the ease His Worship said: "I think no man has the right to buy fat in large quantities from small "bovs. The boys in this case could hardly have lifted one of the tins. It is running very cla.se to receiving with guilty knowledge."