QUESTION OF IDENTITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 47, 18 May 1927, Page 2

QUESTION OF IDENTITY

ALLEGED BENZINE THEFT CHARGE DISMISSED .“Well I’ve got a bit of a doubt There is a question of identity whit* -/ always a bit of danger about it, - Mr. F. Iv. Hunt, S.M., this when he dismissed the charge of s ing a case of benzine valued at against John Madson, an elderly William F. Petford, a motor told the court that he had lorry with the benzine aboard l “ garage entrance near the Street Wharf when the aceu*®® , proached and started to tell him some injuries he had received- n “I was called over to the office, • ford went on, “and when I cal ?* sIZ j B e about ten minutes later the had gone and so had the man. . About 9.30 the same night, said, he and two other men s& accused —all three were quite c that it was he —come up f ro ® J. t at the Nelson Street Wharf, P lc * o' case of benzine from behind a p . old timber, and walk off with it to the wharf. Constable Matheison, who ar , Madson, said that the accusea “ pulled a roll of notes from his P& . saying, “What need would I steal the benzine , look at these. He had sold the launch only * . days before and was living on while his wife was away. ein - The defence amounted to a phatic denial of any knowledge the case of benzine got aboaru launch. M Madson, in the witness box. to»o court that he was physically able of lifting the case, as he a fall a few months ago and n . his shoulder out as well as mi t his leg and ribs. This was his for selling the launch, he sa • could not even haul the anchor carry benzine he always had t the case and carry a tin at in his left hand. , ctr at? “Dismissed,” said the niag Ljj a and Madson stepped from the free man.