ALLEGED WHARF THEFTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1220, 31 August 1911, Page 6

ALLEGED WHARF THEFTS.

FURTHER CHARGES.. EHRMAN PLEADS GUILTY. JURY'S VERDICT IN GLOVER'S CASE. (By Tclegr.-iph.-Prcss Association.) Auckland, August 29. At tho Supreme Court to-day Joseph Elirman was placed in the dock "and confronted with an unusually long indict.ineiH, consisting of twenty-two counts, comprising ten distinct charges of theft of cases of goods of the approximate value of ,£SOO, the property of nine separate firms, from tho Auckland wharves during the months of April, May, June, and July, tea alternative charges of receiving stolen goods, one charge of false pretences, and one of escaping from lawful custody at Te Kuiti on July 19. Ehrman 'pleaded guilty to all the charges. ■ Mr. Singer, who appeared for Ehrrnan, intimated that on his advice the prisoner proposed to make n statement with regard to (lie whole matter, and it would bt> shown that the suggestion made by his Honour that tho prisoner was the ring-leader and the master mind was not quits correct. In fact, the statement would take some time to prepare. His Honour: When I mado the suggestion, I was only spfakiug of what appeared on the depositions. Mr. Singer: I must admit that the depositions, on the face, naturally conveyed the impression, but I will lie able' to show that Hie assumption is not correct. I propose to suhmit a statement in prisoner's handwriting, if possible, covering the whole position, with the hope that it will have tho effect of mitigating punishment. His Honour: It might have some effect in the direction,, but the statement must bear the impress of candour. Mr. Singer said he would point that out to prisoner, and promised a candid and full statement. His Honour deferred sentence. Joseph Ehrmnn and Arthur Glover wero jointly indicted with the theft of throe cases, of drapery, the property of Milne find Choyce. from the Railway Wharf, on April 1. Ehrnian was separately charged with receiving stolen goods and false pretences, and Plov.-r with forcing tho namo of A. Tanfield to a telegram for the purpose of obtaining delivery of goods 011 April 25 Just. Ehrman pleaded "guilty," aid Glover, who was defended by Mr. Lundon, entered a pKi of "not guilty." , Joseph Ehrman and John AlexaiuW M'lntyre were charged with the theft of ;> case ot tobacci. fron. lh(> Queet. Street Wharf on November 1. 1910, and tho former indicted on an alternative count of receiving the case of goods. ' Ehrman pleaded "guilty" and M'lntyre "Not guilty." The charge of the theft of three cases of drapery, the property of Milne and Choyce, and the indictment of forging a telegram preferred against Arthur Glover was proceeded with. Mr. Lundon appeared for the accused.

THE EVIDENCE. The evidence went to show that of a shipment of seven cases of drapery ordered from Home by Milne and Choycp and discharged from the Kia Ora at the Railway AYharf, Auckland, on April i, three cases disappeared. The contents of the missing cases were valued at i>l43 7s. 9d.. and goods to the value of about £$■!. had been recovered by the police and identified by the firm as n portion of their invoiced goods. Tho three cases , along with two others, wero consigned to order from Onehunga to Greymouth by the Kini under n consignment note nurnorting to have been signed by A. Tanfield, and on account of the shipping note mnt being available at Greymouth some trouble arose when Joseph Ehrman went to secure possession of tho cases. Evtaitually the Union Company handed over tht cases upon being shown a telegram purporting to he signed by Tanfield giving instructions for delivery, and in addition receiving a loltoi ot ir>*emnity from a forwarding agent in the W?«J Coast town. Three of the cases were sent on to Westport, one was left at the sample rooms, and one disappeared. Wm. M. Saunders. in charge of Hi* Union S.S. Company's office at Onehunga, stated in evidence that some time after five cases were sent by the Kini to Gie.ymouth the accused Glover rung up to ask witness to sign a shipping note for the eases because of a difficulty in getting delivery of the goods at Greymonth. Witness was unable to give a shipping note, and refused. Cross-examined, the witness said Glover was quite open and frank about the matter, and himself mentioned that cases had been consigned in the name of Tanfield. Henry Stewart limes, clerk in the Union Company's off.ee, said Glover visited tho office towards the end of April, reported 'a difficulty in connection with getting delivery of five cases of goods at Greymouth, because the consignment note had been mislaid, and suggested that witness should communicate with the Greymouth branch to deliver the goods. Witness, advised Glover to see the Railway Department, and later said the best course would be to get a note of indemnity. Melvin B. Essen, post office clerk, produced a telegram purporting to be signed "A. Tanfield," dispatched by accused to the Union S.S. Co., instructing delivery of five cases to Ehrman. Glover, in the presence of two detectives and witness, admitted writing and. sending the telegrani. Alfred Thomas Tanfield, commercial traveller, denied writing iir sending the ■ tnlegxam ■ produced, or instructing or authorising anyone to do so on his behalf. Witness had not sent goods to Greymouth. THE VERDICT.

In the case of Glover the jury, after deliberating for S\ hour?, returned a verdict of guilty on the count of indictment, charging him with the forgery of a telegram, and tho sending of a false telegram, but they found prisoner not guilty on counts charging him with theft and with, tho receiving of stolen property. The jury further found that since the date of' tho sending of the telegram, Glover had acted in collusion with lihrman.

The Judge interpreted 'this latter finding of the jury to a verdict that Glover was guilty 'as accessory after the fact, and intimated that he would add a count to the indictment embodying the finding of the jury. Prisoner was remanded for sentence.

The case against M'lntyre will bo proceeded with to-morrow.