WAREHOUSE THEFTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1190, 27 July 1911, Page 8

WAREHOUSE THEFTS.

. THREE MEN OWN UP. WHAT WAS DISCLOSED IN COURT. SOME DETECTIVE YVOKK. On .Tuly 20 it was mentioned that charges of extensive Ihofts from Wellington warehouses bad been made against several men. 'Yesterday, Mr. \Y. «.!. liiddell, S.M.. heard the charges. The accused were Alfred Smith, Bertie Smith, Allan Lee, and Ernest Charles Gregory. The iiges of the men ranged from 21 years lu ,')7 years. The charges wore:—

Against; Allan Tee.—That, on divers dates betwe-en April 1. IDIO, and July S, he *to!c 5 caddits of Haveloek tobacco, 10 boxes of Mb. tins of Havelork tobacco, 1 caddies of Juno tobacco. ,'! boxes of Derby tobacco. 12 boxes of cigarettes. 14 boxfs of candles, 3 eases of cooan, 2 cases of salmon, 1 case nf tinned fruit, 1 7fllb. chest of lea, 3 casts of pineapples, 2cwt. of rice, ldoz. of Indian Root pills, 1 dozen. of Zam-Buk ointment, and I ease of sardines. The total value was .£143 6s. (id., and the goods were the property of W. and G. Turnbull and Co.

Against Ernest Charles Gregory the charge sheet s<-t forth:—That, on or about June 1, he stole one bag of sugar, valued at 10s. Gd.j June. 19, one case of salmon, valued at £2 25.; June 26, one bag of sugar, 10s. Gd.; June 30, one bag of sugar, 10s. Gd.; July 4, one case of tongues, .£2 2s. These goods wore the property of A. S. Patcrson.

Alfred Smith was charged with receiving the goods front Lee, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Bertie Smith was charged with having received the goods from Alfred Smith, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained.

Bertie Smith was also charged wilh that, on or about June 1, lie s-tole one bag of sugar, valued at'los. Gd.; on June 19, one case of salmon, valued at £2 25.; on June 2G, one bag-of sugar, 10s. 6d.; on .Tiine 30. one bag of sugar, 10s. Gd.; on July 1. one case nf tongues. £2 2s.

The charges against the Smiths and Gregory were heard together. Mr. A. L. Herdman represented the Smiths. Gregory was not represented. How Could it be Done? AVilliam Gordon Hcid, of 120 Tngestre Street, sales manager for \V. G. Tnrnbnll and Co., was called. He stated that Allan Lee bad been head storeman at the firm's bonded warehouse for about six years. Lee bad no authority to sell goods on bis own account to any person. The goods produced in Court were all similar to those stocked by his firm. The import marks on some of the boxes bad been planed off. Detective Bvoberg asked the witness to explain how the store-man at the warehouse could pilfer goods unknown to the firm. '

The- witness answered: "Supposing that we paid diity on ten cases of goods today, instead of Lee .passing them all through to the free store, lie could pass eight through, and retain the other two two for himself."

Norman Trenwith Raymond, of 20 Ellice Avenue, buyer for A. S. F:\terson, staled that he knew Gregory. The goods produced inCourt were similar to those stocked by his firm. Gregory, who had been employed as an uuder-storeman for about five months, had had opportunities of stealing. Bertie Smith had an account with the firm, and frequently brought his own cart to the store for the goods. Detectives Extort a Confession. Detective Kemp stated that, on July IS, in company with Detective Hammond, he had visited Beitie Smith at bis store in Russell Terrace. He had then told Smith that they (the police) had certain information which led them to belitTO that he was in possession of stolen groceries. After a little . hesitation. Smith said that that was correct, and that he. would make a truthful statement, covering everything. Smith then went to the police station, where ho signed a statement to tho following effect:—About four mouths ago his brother had asked him if be could "do" with certain lines of tobacco, as he was going to get them from "Turnbull's man." He did not nsk his brother tile name of the man, but knew (from tho prices) that it was someone in the store who was dishonestly supplying them. Ho had retailed most of the goods at a. little over wholesale prices. Regarding the thefts from A. S. P.itcrson's, he had-put it to the man I his way: "If you will be good to me, I will be gco'd to you." He had then thought that the man's name was Neil, but it was really Gregory. This man used lo watch the storeman while ho (Smith) "sneaked" tho ' goods. He (Smith)'-also used to "work in" an extra bag of sugar v ahd..not pay 1 for it! Detective' lyeuip,\ continuing;, said that Alfred' Smith had "also made a statement. In it Smith said that the statement cf his brother was correct. He (Alfred Smith) knew that Lcc was obtaining'the goods dishonestly. The money' which he got from his brother he.took to Lee, who

Rave him what the litter thought fit. in that way lie got throe or four pounds. Sometimes fhoie was a sl-.irciiv.in ]»T.-cnl, l:ttt lie (iiil mil llt ink thai Hie stntoiiian knew what was gain;; mi. lie did not know whether ho approached Lee lirsl, or whether Lee approached him. Detective Kemp proceeded. He said that on July IS Gregory was arrested and made, u slatc-menl to the elTect Hint lie was third storeman at A. S. I'atcrson's. l.tertie Smith had been Kelt hit; sugar, and had asked him to pnl in an extra bag. Ho had refused, and Smith had said: "Here's five boh for you." lie had lakon (he money and put the sugar i"- Later Smith had said Hint if lie (Gregory) "could work in a ea«c of salmon" ho would give him .CI. He had done ,-o, and had taken the money. Eur a ease nf oilier goods he had rereived £1. He had never commit led any other act of dishonesty.

Afterwards, s-airt the. witness, Gregory remembered taking two extra bags of sugar. Both Married Men. Tn Air. Herdman: From inquiries made he found thnl in the past both Hie Smiths had borne excellent reputations. Both had been qiiilo candid and open about the matter when approached by the police, and hud done everything possible to assist (he latter. So bad Gregory. Both the .Smiths were married men. Alfred Smith had a family, and his wifo was in a state of delicate health. Mrs. Smith had fainted while ho (witness) was in the housp.

Detective Hammond corroborated Detective Kemp's evidence, and gave evidence as to recovering tho goods. Mr. Herdmnn: Do yon agree with Detective Kemp that the Smiths gave you every assistance, and were, perfectly frank?

Witness: Not altogether. Bertie, Smith did hot give way at. once. ]t was only when he found that ho was hemmed in that' he made a clean breast of it.

The witness proceeded to say, however, that, after that, Smith assisted them considerably.

The three aoeusrd then pleaded guilty, and were commit ted lo the Supreme Court for sentence.

Mr. Herdmnn said that ho intended to ask for probation for the Smith?, in view of Iho good characters which they bad previously borne. He.now a*ked fnv hail, which was granted in sureties of JilOO for each, and on condition that the accused should report to the police doily between 0 and 10 a.m. and 5 and G p.m. . Gregory asked for hail, and wap granted it in. one" surety of .£SO, and on condition that he reported daily to the police between 9 and 10 a.m. and 5 and G p.m. The Case Against Lee. The case against I,ce was then taken. Mr. 0. R. Dix appeared for tlio accused. William Gordon-Iteid, sales manager for \Y. G. Tnrnbnll and Co., gave evidence similar to that given by him in the other cases.

Cross-examined by Mr. Dix, the witness said that they hail absolutely no check on goods going from the bond to tho lice store. Detective Hammond said that, on July lE, he toil: Lee to the police office, and showed him some articles which be informed Lee the latter was charged, with stealing. Lee then nir.de a statement tint. Alfred Smith had asked him if ho could ""ct am- goods reasonable" for 'his brother.' He got Smith candles, tobacco, cocoa, etc. Continuing his evidence, the witness said that Leo had said that it the Smiths said he had taken more than that, ho knew nothing about it. •Viler evidence bad beeu beard, the accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial. He was admitted to bail in one surety of .£IOO.

One of the most astonishing instances of what genius and energy can accomplish when deprived of the roo>t valuable ol the souses, was John dough, the b.inrt botanist, lie lost his sight when about two years old, from smallpox, but he managed to make himself master of the French, Latin, and Greek tongues, and to acquire a deep knowledge of mathematics. He knew by the touch, taste, and smell evcrv plant within twenty miles of bis home." lie could argue with astonishing accuracy on the. construction of the eye aud the nature of light and colours. All barristers, actors, clergymen, Bookmakers, editors, farmers' men; Rat-catchers, weavers, bachelors, Old maids and widows, cricketers; Footballers, soldiers, milliners, Golfers, clowns, cowboys, and chaffeurs; All people that on this earth do dwell By taking 'Woods' Great Peppermint Cure keep well. ' —Advt.