ALLEGED WHOLESALE THEFTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 14

ALLEGED WHOLESALE THEFTS.

FOUR MEN CHARGED. WELLINGTON, August 11. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, Mr W G. Riddell, S.M., heard three cases of wholesale thefts from warehouses in which four men were implicated. One man, Neman, was concerned in all three cas*s. He is a middle-aged man, and ' married. Of the other three, Wilson is a mere youth. Kruse is a man of 56 years of age, -who has been in New Zealand for many years, and who has hitherto borne :ui unblemished reputation, and Howard is= a young man. The accused, N'oman, is an expressman, the other three [laving been employed as Etoremen. by the Srms from which the goods were stolen. The first charge taken was that against John Philpot Wilson (Mr Wilford) and William James Noman (Mr Dtx), who were jharged with theft of £50 Is lOd worth jf ni&dicinol and toilet goods, the property of Young's Chemical Co. Sub-in-spector Norwood conducted the prosecution.' Sergeant Mathieson said that after ac had arrested Noman he made a eearch n the accused's house, and found the >tolen goods in a bedroom. Noman said le wislied to make a full confession, and ligned a statement. This statement was o the effect that Noman had been getting joods from Wilson for come time. It itarted, during a race week, when Wilson ■ iold goods to Noman for small eume. 'tfoman then lent Wilson several sums of noney, and in return for each loan Wilson jave him goods. Noman said that he ras soft and easily led, and that vas how he got into trouble. 7he witness then arrested the acu&ed Wilson, who also nuide a statement.

Wilson said he had borrowjest £2 10s from Noman, who kept worrying him fox* the money, which he was not in a position to pay. Noman therefore suggested that he should get some pills, and this he did. After this he stole more goods, and gave them to Noman in return for money lent by the latter. When Wilson was arrested he said, "It's a good job. My life has been a hell since I got into Noman's clutches." The thefts were carried out from March to August. Th© accused Noman pleaded " Not guilty." He said he was guilty of receiving but not guilty of theft. Mr Wilford asked his Worship not- to take a plea from Wilson, as his case might come within the pro* visions of section 44 of the Crimes Act, which dealt with crimes committed under compulsion. If this defence "were found to be not available, counsel would advice the accused to plead "Guilty." Wilson was allowed bail as formerly. The next case taken was that of Charles Kruse (Mr Wiiford) and William James Noman (Mr Dix), who were charged with theft of sheet iron, lead, Bafls, etc., valued at £9 3s. ibe property of th© StewartTimber, Glass, and Hardware Co. Xtuso was the company's head storeman. A statement by Kruse wae pait in, to theeffect that he had given Noman certain goods, but that Noman had' promised topay for them. ' He admitted that he had not put the goods through the books. He had not had a penny from Noman, who he said, had told a pack of lies. Noman had made a statement intimating hisintenton to plead guilty. Both the accused were committed for trial. William James Howard (Mr Meredith) and William John Noman (Mr Dix) were changed with the theft of a quantity of nails and sheet iron, valued at £5 15s the property of the Stewart Timber' Glass, and Hardware Company (Ltd.). Howard elected to go before a jury, but Noman elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded "Guiifcy." The casewas not concluded. Hamilton Graham (Mr Wilford) was charged with tie theft of 24 sheets of corrugated iron, ihe property of Martin Kennedy. The evidence called cast no reflection .on the accused, who was accordingly discharged. The case was brought as the w«ult of a statement by A oman.