THEFT BY TRAM CONDUCTOR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 200, 19 May 1920, Page 6

THEFT BY TRAM CONDUCTOR

IMPRISONED FOE TWO MONTHS.

A tram conductor, named Ed\sard Bertram Bevan, lor whom Mr. N. S. Johnson appeared, was charged yesterday with the theft of a nendant valued at £5, the property of Eliza Grace Bell. The pendant, which was lost in a traincar, was picked up •by a passenger, and handed vto the accused, whoso duty it was to hand it to the Lost Property Department, r but this he failed to do. George James, ol the corporation tramways said that'accused was a conductor in the service. About May 10 he was notified of the loss of tho pendant in a Newtown-hound car. There was a rule in the service that all .property found in the cars must be sent to the Lost Property Department. Accused was questioned about tho matter, but denied all knowledge of' it. Tho accused had been c,f good behaviour since he rejoined the service. Constable Walsh.said he interviewed the acouse'U on Monday about the lost pendant. At first ho denied all knowledge of it, and said the woman must have made a mistake.' 'Later he admitted ho had a pendant in his possession, and' in n. written statement 6aid that the pendant was handed to him by a lady nnssonger, and he had quito forgotten about it. The accused gave evidence on tho lines of the above statement. Tho Magistrate said that lie must enter a conviction, for the accused acted dishonestly after he had discovered the pendant In his pocket. The police record disclosed that the accused had been previously conviote'd of theft, also of disorderly conduct. Eovnii wns sentenced' to two months' imprisonment.