’BUS DRIVER’S THEFT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1926, Page 3

’BUS DRIVER’S THEFT

“ LETTING THE CO.MPANY DOW! LIGHTLY.” AUCKLAND,. Alay 13. Tile extraordinary statement that b was “ letting the company down lighl ly ” by taking “only” £2 per week ou of passenger fares was made'to ChieJ Detective Cummings by Williar Charles Warwick (28), a ’bus driver who pleaded guilty at the Police Cour this morning to two charges of stealing a total of £lO from the Royal Alotor ’Bus Company. Chief-Detective Cummings said tha Warwick had been employed as : driver for the past fourteen months The usual system was for drivers t< collect fares and place tbo money ii a till just in front of the driving wheel It lias been suspected that drivers had for sonic time been defrauding th< company, and so a trap was set. Aftei having purchased a card of tickets, tin Chief-Detective said, in company witl Detective-Sergeant O’Brien, he took a trip on accused’s ’bus. Accused baildied the tickets, but at the conclusion of his run they were not recorded by him. Subsequently Warwick was interviewed, when he at first stated that lie had only £2 on him. However, a search revealed that he had about £2O in his pockets. He then admitted that for the past four months he had been taking on an average, about £2 per week from tbe proceeds, and added that most of the, other drivers did the same; in fact, he said the drivers would often meet and discuss their takings. A special feature of the ease was that Warwick had told the whole truth when first interviewed about Hie matter. He stated that his takings were much higher linn those of any of the other ’bus drivers. This statement was inquired into and found to be correct. Accused was a married man with four children, and paid £1 5s per week as rent. He had never been in trouble before. After reminding, the Magistrate that the matter was a serious one for tho company concerned, the Chief-Detec-tive mentioned that the company employed about sixty men. In addition to receiving a wage of Cl per week, accused also got 5 per cent commission.

Warwick at this stage stated that the £2O found on him was bis own money. It was his commission. Afr Hunt: Pretty hot! Not only do you accept commission on top of your salary, but you go and steal money from the company at the rate of £2 per week. Warwick : I only used to take Is 3d per day for my lunch. Chief-Detective Cummings: No, sir. What be told me was that he had been taking about £2 per week. He also said that other drivers were robbing the company, and that he was letting the company down lightly. When asked by the Magistrate what lie thought about the matter, ibe Probation Officer, Al,r 4V. J. Campbell, said that seeing that accused bad four young children and lost bis position, probably be could lie fined. Air Hunt: Fined! lie deserves six months’ imprisonment. However, it is against my judgment not to send him to prison, but I will adopt AH Canvilicll’s recommendation and imnosc :1 fine of CIO. Accused was ordered to pay to the company the other £lO found on him.