THEFT OF DETONATORS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 738, 20 January 1915, Page 5

THEFT OF DETONATORS.

KOPAKI SETTLER CHARGED. A MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT. At the le Bluifi Magistrate's Court yesterday, Emil Buchli, a Kopaki settler, was charged with the theft of five hundred detonators, the proparty of the Public Works Department. Sergt. Rowell conducted the prosecution and Mr A. F. Howarth appeared for accused. The farts, as disclosed by evidence, were that in March last a quantity of explosives, including five hundred detonators, were sent to Kopaki for the Public Works Department. The detonators were missed, and just before Christmas Constable Capp, in executing a search warrant on accused's premises, discovered the detonators. Evidence was given by the Department officials, and railway officers as to the delivery of the goods at Kopaki. Mr Howartb, for accused, said it would be admitted that the detonators, which were found in accused's place, were the property of the Department. The accused had been working for a surveyor at the time the detonators were missed. He had a consignment of stores at the station and employed two men to pack them out to his section. When the goods were delivered it was found the detonators had been brought along with them by mistake. Accused told the men to bring the detonators back; and ha then returned to work at the survey camp. He stayed very little at his own place, being employed at other work most of N the time. The detonators had not been returned, and accused had been afraid to return them for fear of getting into trouble. Accused admitted the Btory he had told Constable Capp regarding the detonators was incorreat. He was afraid of getting into trouble, and told the constable he had bought them from Green and Colebrook and from Sanderson. Accused had not used the detonators, and had bought others and used them on his place in the meantime Accused admitted having be9n convicted for tha theft' of a bridle and fined £-5 a short time ago.

His Worship said he did not believe accused's story. It was not a first offence, and was not a case for probation or a fine. Accused would be imprisoned with hard labour for a month.