A FOOLISH JOKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1917, Page 2

A FOOLISH JOKE.

ALLEGED' THEFT. At tile Xcw Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. A. Orooke, &.M., Arthur Roebuck was charged with tlio tlioft of n tog of gait, valued at 4s, frain the railway goods shed on June 2nd. bub-Inspector Mcllveney conducted the prosecution, and Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared for the defendant. Hugh Alexander Ruddy, storeman at tlio Xow Plymouth railway goods shed, stated that on the night of June 2 he was checking goods at one of the doors of the shed, and defendant was loading cement on to his motor lorry. A iporter named Reid and another man named Clark were assisting the defendant. In a corner of the shed, known as "the country corner" there was, among other goods, a 501b "bag of salt consigned by Hatrick's, Waitara, to Blanchett, of South Road. Witness saw Roebuck walking'across the shed with the bag of salt on his shoulders and putting it on his lorry. On being challenged by witness accused denied having taken the salt from * the country corner, stating that the one he had on his lorry he had picked up at Burgess, Fraser and Co.'s After some argument defendant said to witness: "Yea, I did take the bag of salt, because you accused mo of getting aiway with a crate of cheese last Wednesday. Subsequently defendant iput the bag of salt back into the shed. To Mr. Johnstone: A crate of cheese had 'been taken from the shed previously, 'but toy whom was not known. Defendant had not been accused of taking any more than anyone else. There were othor men about Wen the salt was taken. At times carriers took goods from the shed and put them on tholr wagons, signing for them afterwards to suit their own convenience, "out it was not a common ■practice. After Roebuck had put the salt on his wagon, he did not lay he had done so to take a rise out of witness, but he did say that he did so because he know iwithess was watching him. It was not the case, however, that witness had been watching accused more than anyone else. C. Peach, stationmaster, stated that he had asked Roebuck about the bag of salt and Roebuck had replied that, ho put it on the wagon because he thought Ruddy was over particular about checking: the goods. To Mr. Johnstone: Witness was not certain as to the exact words used by defendant, but they were to. the effect that 'ho had taken the salt for a'bit of fun. This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr. Johnstone said he would .submit that there had been no intention on defendant's part, to take the salt as his own property. Tho defendant had ljcen engaged in the carrying business'for about twenty years, and during all that time had taken loads from the railway station daily. A few days before June 2 some salt had "been delivered to defendant, and lie received one bag too •many. >He left the bag in the shed and it remained .there. On June 2nd defendant, assisted I>y porter Reid' and Clark, loaded his wagon, anil then Reid and Clark went to the other end of the shed. Defendant " saw that Ruddy was watching him and for a lark took the salt from the corner- and put it on Ms wagon. Ruddy had previously asked him if he had taken a crate of cheese by mistake, and when he denied it Ruddy seemed to disbelieve him. He had taken the salt in view of Ruddy am! others, and when Reid and Clark returned lie told them he was having a lark with Ruddy 'by taking a bag of salt to the wagon. When Ruddy asked him about the matter he at first said lie had some salt on his wagon from Burgess, Fraser and Co.'s, which was true, but afterwards admitted having taken the salt as a joke because of the cheese incident. Defendant afterwards returned the bag of salt to the shed. Arthur Roebuck, carrier, residing at Okato, and working for his father, gave evidence on his own behalf to the eifect indicated by counsel. Fr.ineiß Reid, porter, employed in the goods shed, corroborated defendant's statement that lie had told witness and Clark that he liad taken the bag of salt to have a joke or a lark with Ruddy. To Sut)-in»pector Mclllvcney: He had ■ been interviewed by ,plain-olot'hes Constable Fi.tagibbon about the matter, and I had told him he saw Roebuck take the ! salt 'back to the shed from the wagon. He did not think lie had said that it was after that, and therefore after Roefotick iutd been howled out in taking the salt, that Roebuck spoke about having a joke, with Ruddy. His Worship said there was some doubt about the case, ahd he would give the defendant the benefit of that doubt. According to the defendant's own showing bo had done a very foolish thing, but there might have been no criminal intent. The information would be dismissed.