EGGS AND CHAFF.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18598, 20 June 1930, Page 6

EGGS AND CHAFF.

THEFTS AT CRICKLEWOOD. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. On a charge of stealing 20 dozen of preserved eggs and 12 bags of chaff at Chicklewood on June 6, Thomas Eric Austin, a labourer, appeared before Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M.. in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The value of the eggs was set out as 30/and that of the chaff at £3, making the total value of the articles stolen from William Andrew Waddell £4/10/-. Detective Studholme, who appeared for the Police Department, said that briefly the facts were that on the night of June 6, accused went to complainant’s firm and from a shed there stole 12 bags of oaten sheaf chaff and took them to an auction room at Fairlie. He also stole 20 dozen Of eggs from Mr Waddell’s dairy, and sold them subsequently to Mr Braddick, storekeeper, at Fairlie. William Andrew Waddell, farmer, residing at Cricklewood, said that on April 5 last, he stacked 551 bags of chaff in his shed. On the 7th inst he went to the shed and he noticed motor wheel marks showing in the frost. On going into the shed he found that 13 bags of chaff were missing. As a result of information received, he examined his dairy and found approximately 20 dozen eggs missing. He knew the accused, but had not given him any authority to take either the eggs or the chaff. The value of the stolen property was between £4 and £5. George Claverly Martin, auctioneer at Fairlie, said accused called on him on June 7 with 12 bags to be sold on his account,. Constable Mclntosh stated that on the 11th inst he interviewed accused with reference to the present charge. Accused admitted having taken the eggs stolen from Mr Waddell to Mr James Braddick's store at Fairlie, and sold them to him for 30/-. With respect to the chaff accused said he first took the stolen chaff to the railway goods shed, removing them next day to Mr Martin’s auction mart to be sold on his behalf. After hearing the evidence accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.