THEFT OF ONIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3970, 11 July 1929, Page 2

THEFT OF ONIONS.

The monthly sitting of the local S.M. Court- was held this morningbefore Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M. William Aldridge and Russell Charles Berry were -charged with the theft of onions from James R. AlleChy -on June 21st. Berry was also charged with receiving onions to the value of 16/-, knowing that they -had been stolen. Mr. Bergin appeared for Aldridge and entered a plea of not guilty. A similar plea was entered -by Berry. Constable Owen in outlining the cas-e, said A Her by resided at the residence of Mr. A. Hoskins, in Avenue Road, where lie had a large garden. He had grown a lot of onions and stored them in a shed. One day Aldridge called and after looking around the shed, went away. Aldridge was staying with Be dry at the south end of 'the town. When the onions were found to he missing suspicion fell on Aldridge as he had appeared interested in the place. Berry’s denied any knowledge of the onions hut a search was made of their place where a quantity of onions were found in a box hidden away in a. room. Both Berry and his wife then said -that they had brought the -onions with them to Fox ton from Tangiwhai. Aldridge was not present and when interviewed said he had got the -onions from Ins father who said he had got them frolm Allerbv.

James Robert Allerbv, labourer, in evidence, said he was a gardener by occupation. Last season he grew a large quantity of onions which When harvested he tied up and hung them in a shed at the rear of his -place of residence with Mr. -Hoskins in Avenue Road. The shed was kept securely locked but one morning witness found the shed door smashed open with an axe and eight or nine bundles of onions missing. The onions, produced, witness recognised as his and identified his peculiar method of stringing the vegetables. Witness admitted giving Mrs. Aldridge, defendant’s (mother, one bundle of onions but they were different onions Worn the ones stolen. The stolen onions witness valued at 3d per lb. The key to the shed was never out of witness’s possession. To Mr. jßergin: Did not know how many bundles of onions he had blit all the nails in the shed were full up prior to the vegetables being stolen. 'The shed was a chain away from the house and it would he easy to break the door open without waking the inlmates of the house. Three weeks before 1 the onions were stolen -witness left one bundle of onions at Aldridge’s brotheir’s place. It would be possible for someone else to give -the onions away.

Ellen Mfena Reeye in evidence said she was housekeeper for Mr. Hoskins, in Avenue E-oad, with whom Mr. Allerbv resided. When Allerby discovered the shed broken open he called witness and she saw about eight or nine vacancies among the strings of onions on the shed wall. Witness -helped Allerby string the onions and identified the produced articles. Aldridge was a cousin of witness and on the Wednesday before the onions were stolen he called in and remarked that witness had a nice garden. He also remarked on the onions hanging in the shed. He called on no particular business. Witness had never given any of the onions away. To Mr. Bergin: Months ago witness sold solme onions to Mrs. Aldridge snr. There was no window in the shed but Aldridge knew there were onions in there. Inferior, onions were kept in -the washhouse, but -the onions stolen were of a special (bind. Cross-examined by Constable Owen witness said there was wirenetting in front of the shed which enabled anyone to see the contents inside. &

Constable J. V Bell, in evidence, said that as a result of a complaint that the onions had been stolen witness carried out investigations and as a result visited Mr. Berry’s place in Purcell Street. Berry was home and witness . info limed him that he was looking for stolen property. Both Berry and his wife denied all knowledge of any onions and said witness could look through the place. In a room.inspected witness saw a big cretonne-covered box which Berry said contained clothing. Onions were found in the box and all parties including a child swore the onions had been brought to Foxton from T'angiwhai. Witness took the onions away and they were identified by Allerby and Mrs. Reeve. Alddidge, when interviewed, said he had obtained the onions from his father and remarked that witness would not have taken the onions away if lie had been home, and that, he would thrash the man who said he had stolen the onions. He also ashed for Ids sumlmons there and then. Aldridge senior said Mrs. Reeve had given him the onions which lie had given to his son.

To Mr. Bergin: There were no other onions in Berry’s house. It was not rare for vegetables to be stolen in Foxton but it was hard to locate the thieves. Witness never said whose onions had been stolen when he interviewed Berry’s, bntAldridgo was able, to tell his father that he had been accused of stealing Allerhy’s onions. Mr. Betrgin, for Aldridge, said that defendant - was living with Berry. Hoskin’s place was next door to Aldridge senjr’s. residence, Aldridge junr., was in the habit of obtaining vegetables thorn his father and taking 'them ito Berry’s plaice. He had been given three strings of onions and unripe onions from the garden. He denied stealing Allerhy’s onions. Aldridge

senr. had given his son three strings of onions given him -by Mr. Hoskins, who had told him not to say anything about it as there would be trouble with Allerby. Aldridge knew nothing about any other onions found at Berry’s.

‘ Wjilliafai Aldridge, labourer, in evidence, said he resided with Berrys. He had obtained all -his vegetables froim his father, inelud-' ing three strings and some unripe lonions. Witness diejnied that lie was a cousin of Mi’s Reeve, but said he had -known her a long time. He denied haring visited Hoskins’ on the occasion alleged by Mrs Reeve. Had never been in the onion shed, and denied stealing any onions. As far as witness knew’ -the only onions Berrys had were what witness took to them. To Constable Owen: Could not say whether Berrys brought any onions from Tangiwhai. Williaim Aldridge snr. gave evidence as to his wife having received onions from Mjrs Reeve. Witness’ son was hard up, and he gave him practically -all the vegetables in his garden. Mrs Reeve had asked them not to say anything about -the onions to Mr Allerbv, or there w’ould be a row. To Constable Owen: The onions recovered frolm Berry’s were not the onions witness gave to his son. Berry also entered the 'box and in evidence said lie had been kept in vegetables by Aldridge, and the onions produced were the ones given h-iim by Aldridge. All lie said to Constable (Bell was that the onions; were never stolen. It was five months since they came from Tangiwhai. Witness’ wife said the onions were brought from Tangiwhai. The onions were kept in the front parlour to keep them away -from the children. Constable Owen: Wje found w T e couldn’t keep them in the office. .(Laughter). The S.M.: Did you tell Constable Bell the onions were procured from Aldridge's father. —-No. Why didn’t you? —Constable Bell said they -had been stolen, and I thought it would be better proved. The S.M. said there was no doubt in this mind that Berry knew all >about the onions. Aldridge senr’s; evidence was quite straightforward, and he said ft-he onions produced were not the onions he had given his son. It seelmed strange that Aldridge had denied visiting Hoskins’ place. It was hardly likely that Mrs Reeve would deliberately perjure herself for no object. Tt was also hardly likely that she would break down the door to give onions away when she had other onions in the washhouse. It was more than a coincidence that Aldridge was seen about the place a few days befoi’e the shed was broken into, and -that onions were found hidden away in a -box in Berry’s front parlour. Berry had tried lo mislead the. (Constable by his statements, whereas he had nothing to cover up if -lie had received the onions from Aldridge, and they had come from Aldridge’s father. From the evidence there was no doubt, that Aldridge was the thief, and that Berry was aware of. the fact. He would give them a chance, however, despite the fact- that they had committed perjury. They would lie -convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called on, the charge of theft against Berry being dismissed, he being convicted of receiving stolen property. The -S.M. gave a warning, however, that should a similar case again be brought before him a short te-rfm. of imprisonment would be -imposed on the offender.