Trial Of Driver Of Petrol Truck

Chronicle (Levin), 5 August 1949, Page 3

Trial Of Driver Of Petrol Truck

Press Asso&atiijit)

(Per

-'AUCKLAND, August LThe trial of the petroi truck! driver,' Jade Crutchley, aged 24 (Mr, Le^ry and Mr. .Hillyer), on charges bf theft bf petrolj was continue'd for the third day before Mr. Justice Stanton. The chargefe inade; by the Cfown were that between December 16 and March 21 last, Crutchley stole 455 gallons ot» petroi from the Atlantic Union Oil Company and that he had fraudlently obtained a cheque valued at £35 from a service station owner. The greater. part of the day was occupied with hearing Crown witnesses ana late in the afternoon Mr. Leary opened the case for the defence. Mr. Leary submitted that accused had been a loyal, effective and industrious servant of his company. He found that the only way to better himself in the service was to work long hours of overtirne. The company was quite pleased and his normal weekiy wage, instead of £6, became about £10. He made a point of making personal friends of the service station proprietors on his run. 'Counsel asked the jury to clear its mind of snspicions that had been instiiled by suggestion and to examine the case on its aetual merits. Accused, in evidence, said he had had the biggest truck in the Atlantic company 's fleet and the iongest run. He had greatly improved the company 7s saies and had disposed of about 400,000 gallons in eight months. His long hours had aSeqted his health. It was impossible for him to have stolen the petroi as alleged by the Crown. Witness described in detail the system of recordihg and checking petroi transactions. He was still under examination by Mr. Leary when the hearing was adjourned^ /