SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 37, 7 November 1917, Page 11

SUPREME COURT

ALLEGED RECEIVING 0E STOLEN GOODS

ACCUSED ACQUITTED

Tho criminal sessions of Ihe Supreme Court, were resumed beforo His Honour Mm Chief .lustiro (Sir fiobcrt Stout) yci>lordny.

Henry Alexander Lucas and Violet Lucas, ji. young married couple, wero at' riugmvl on eight charges of receiving Melon goods. Mr. T. Toung defended. Mr. J'. S. K. Mncnssey, who appeared as Crown Prosecutor, said that tho two umised had only recently been married. At llio t imo of tho alleged offence tbey wnro working together, running a, bUitioner's shop in Central Buildings in Lauiblon Quay. Lucas and a man. named Axel Martin l'orsson had been employed in connection with tho Firs Brigade, and had so beconio acquainted with each other. Persson entered tho employment of Collins Bros, and Co., Ltd. (wholesale stationers, Victoria Street), as a packer. 110 arranged to disposo of some of the firm's goods, nnd delivered thom to Lucm. Tho goods wore worth ikl wholesale, and Lucas paid only for them. Persson had been charged in tho Magistrate's Court with stealing tho. foods, and had pleaded guilty. Ho was [ho principal, witness ugain6t Lucas and his wife.

Mr. Young, after tho eridonco for llio prosecution had been heard, contended tlie defence that the Luca/ses wero the victims of a lio by Porsson, nnd of the eirotirusinncea in which tho transaction took place. Ho suggested that, tho Lucesoa' believed that Persson was a. bona-tido commorcial traveller. Henry Luoas entered the witness-box, and stated that he was ignorant (at tho lmo of tho transaction) of tho fact, that tho goods had been stolen. Ho denied that Persson had told him of the theft, and said that his wifo was tho first to suspect that anything was wrong. \ iolot Lucas also gave evidence. His Honour, in summing up, said that it was significant that the cvidenco given by tho accused agreed with that of Persson, cxcopfc upon tho question whether Porsson hnd fold tho accused that the goods wero stolen.

Tho jury retired at 5 p.m., and nljoufc of au hour later returned a verdiot of "Not guilty." Tho prisoners were discharged. Tho Court adjournod till to-day.