THEFT OF GASOLENE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2186, 7 October 1920, Page 3

THEFT OF GASOLENE.

ACCUSED PLEADS GUILTY,

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr J. S. Evans, S.M., Prank Lawton was charged that on September 13th he stole 22 cases of gasolene valued at £33 11s, the property of Levin & Co. Ltd. Chief-Detective Ward prosecuted, and Mr E. K. Kirkcaldie appeared for the accused.

The facts were stated to be that (he accused was male of the s.s. Kennedy under charter to Levin & Co. A transhipment of gasolene was received by the Kennedy from an American vessel. The Kennedy left for Foxton on September 14th and her manifest showed that she carried 1301 cases of gasolene, consigned to Levin & Co.’s agents for distribution to customers. On the arrival of the Kennedy at Foxton the tally out of gasolene was 1323 cases, or 22 cases (one crane load of gasolene) in excess. The accused sent this excess 22 cases bv carrier to Henry Coley, his father-in-law, who is a taxi-proprietor at Foxton, and received a cheque for £2!) 14s. When Coley got the gasolene he rang up Levin & Co., and asked them if they sent the oil. Later Lawton rang up Coley and asked him if he got the gasolene, stating that he purchased il in Wellington. Lawton was seen by Detective Torrance and made a voluntary statement, admitting his part of the theft. He stated that his share was only £B. George Wilson, tally clerk, staled (hat he was responsible for tallying the gasolene into the Kennedy. On the day before the Kennedy sailed the Harbour Board official tallying the gasolene out of Ihe American vessel disputed 22 case>, but witness considered his tally was correct and stuck to it. When the vessel was loaded the two tallies were believed to he correct and the Harbour Board official was alleged to have made no allowance for leaks which were sent back to the discharging vessel. The accused heard witness say that there was a dispute aboul 22 cases. He made that statement to the. shipping clerk. The accused could not have known if there were 22 cases in excess or that number less.

The aeeused pleaded guilty, and was eommitled to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr Kirkcaldie asked for bail, which was granted in tip; sum of £IOO and one surety of £IOO, or two of £OO each.