STOLEN PROPERTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16352, 15 February 1921, Page 7

STOLEN PROPERTY.

SUPREME COURT CASE. In the Supreme Court this morning the trial was concluded ot a young man named John William Carney, charged with theft .and receiving stolen goods. Mr H. J. Raphael represented the accused and Air A. T. Donnelly appeared for the Crown His Honor Air Justice Herdman saad that accused was charged with four different offences<l; Stealing four 1x01*36 covers; (2) receiving the hors© covers knowing them to have been stolon ; (3) stealing from Booth. Alacdonald and Co. chains and swingle trees: (4) receiving tho chains and swingle trees knowing tliom to have been stolen. If the prisoner were found guilty of theft the jury could dismiss tho counts of receiving. The principle was that when property known to have been stolen was found in possession of prisoner it, was his duty to give nn account of how he came to get it. If he could not give a satisfactory account then the jury had the right to draw the inference that he either stole the property or that he knew the property had been stolen. After a retirement of over one hour tlie jury returned a verdict that a cusetl had been guilty of receiving the swingle trees and chains and not guilty of the other three chargee. Sentence was deferred. His Honor ordered that the chain* and swingle trees should be returned to Booth, Alacdonald and Co-