THEFTS OF WHISKY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 25, 24 October 1942, Page 10

THEFTS OF WHISKY

14 Cases Taken From Warehouse Bottles of whisky were identified by numbers on the backs of. the labels when charges of receiving whisky w were being heard in the Magistrates’ Court, \v ellmgtou. The whisky bottles that were identified were alleged to be part of over £lOO worth that (had been stolen. Barrie Grey, hotel porter, aged 21, was charged with breaking and entering the warehouse of Burns, I’hilp and Go., Ltd., Molesworth Street,: on October 2 and stealing six cases of whisky valued at £42/18/-. Jointly with Douglas Alexander Biddiss, labourer, aged 21, he was charged with breaking and entering the same warehouse on October 13 and stealing eight eases of whisky valued at £57/4/-. Leonard James Thompson Ross, carrier, aged 38, was charged with receiving whisky knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. Grey and Biddiss pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Hoss denied the two charges against him and was committed to the Supreme Court tor trial in February. . ■ Giving evidence against Grey and Biddiss, Edward George Earl, storeman at the warehouse, said six cases, were missed from the stock of Huntly Blend, whisky one day aud eight cases another day. The landed cost of each ease, ■which contained 12 bottle's, was £7/3/-. Detective F. O. Scott told of the finding ' on October 14 of a case like the ones containing the whisky in the warehouse in Grey's room ,on LTimmer’s Steps. Grey then had in his possession £79, which lie ■ said was the proceeds of the sale of the eight eases stolen the night before. ‘ Giving evidence against Ross, Leslie Wilfred Verreker Bindon, sales manager of Burns. Philp anil Co., Ltd., said the firm was the sole agent for Huntly Blend whisky, which was u most unusual blend. He identified five bottles of it that were in court by looking through the bottles at the bucks of the labels. Numbers there corresponded-with, numbers^on the invoices from Glasgow for a shipment of tiO eases of the whisky received in Sem tember. Authority had not been given for the sale of the consignment, and none had been sold, because the decision of the Price. Tribunal on its price had not been obtained. With reference to the receiving charges, Grey said that he called at accused’s office in Wakefield Street and sold the first six cases for £lO a case, carrying them from his room to_ Ross’s office and receiving payment in £s,notes. The day after the theft, of the eight cases he arranged- their sale also to Ross at the same price, being paid again in £5 notes. At Ross's arrangement he used a van to remove these. After delivering them he returned to bis room but was arrested. He said he did not think Ross asked auv questions about the whisky. Detective Scott related an interview with Ross when he was making inquiries about the movements of the van. Ross denied having any Huntly Blend whisky, but a search of his house in Overtoun Terrace, Hataitai, disclosed three of the bottles that were in Court, and the other two were found in Ross's office. Ross was allowed bail. Lie was represented by Mr- A. L. Hollings, and MrSt out. S.M.. was on the bench.