PILFERING AT GOOD SHEDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 9

PILFERING AT GOOD SHEDS.

WHO TAPPED THE BARREL? The vigilance of tho special staff of Victorian railway detectives has been quite outwitted by tho ingenuity of a person or persons knowing tho routine of their movements, and also tho particular business transacted at tho "X" shed in iho Spencer Street yards, Melbourne. Recently a consignment of imported beer in small barrels arrived at the shed, and it provod a temptation for envious eyes. Some days after, while'a goods-shed employee was handling them in order to facilitate delivery, lie was surprised to find that one of the barrels was empty. The fact was immediately reported. Obviously tho barrel had been tapped. It was up-ended, and the scheme was laid bare. Gas piping, with a tap attached, was neatly plugged in a hole that had been made in the cask, then carried along under the flooring and beneath llio delivery' platform for some distance, and finally' through an earthenware-pipo drain leading under the inad. .Men had been seen at various times near the

"outlet." On one occasion thoy were discussing tho merits ot Australia cricketers, and at another time they were heard arguing the question whether haircutting should bo Is., (heir object, no doubt, being to divert attention from tho real cause of their ineetiNji. However, not; one man, it is understood, can bo identified for tiic purines of n prosecution. It is believed " that, a favourable opportunity to remove Die piping was being awnite.d when the "lir.d" was made.

i'ilfcring from' station trucks am! sheds is os rife now as it ever was. What is regarded ill the nature of a record for quick handling in such circumstances was achieved recently. A .truck carrying an assortment of merchandise was shunted 011 to a siding at Spencer Street in broad daylight, til 20 minutes fifteen caddies of tobacco wore stolon!