ALLEGED THEFT OF CANVAS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1918, Page 6

ALLEGED THEFT OF CANVAS.

TWO WHARF LABORERS CHARGE©. ONE MAN COMMITTED EUR .TRIAL. At tJie New Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday, before .Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., William Wilson and Samuel Edward Lh>\ le were charged with the theft of a tarpaulin," valued at £su, the property of some person or person unknown. Sub-Inspector Hutton prosecuted, and Mr. A- 11. Johnstone appeared for accused. Thomas Rodgers Clow, tent-maker, XV,i' Plymouth, said he had examined the tarpaulin (produced). It measured 42ft x 30ft, and would bo worth over £SO new. As it had been dragged lubout, and some of the seams opened, it wa? now valued at £45 Bs. William G- Marr, carrier, Moturoa* said he remembered getting a message to be at the breakwater at noon on April 27- He went there at ajbout 12.15 p.m. lie saw the two accused, who brought a trolley of wood to his waggon. They also had a big, long package, rolled up in scrim. He did not know what was in it until he took it off his waggon, and lie then saw that it was canvas, similar to that produced in court. The accused jjut the things into witness' cart, and he took them to Doyle's house. Doyle paid for the cartage. Charles lister, saddler, of the firm of Cook and Lister, New Plymouth, deposed that ho rememlbcred on Monday, April 29, Doyle coming to his shop 'between 12 and 1 o'clock, and showing him a sample <■" canvas. He said it was a sheet, about 12yds x 14yds. Accused asked £ls for the sheet, and witness subsequently purchased it for £lO, paying by cheque. In conversation, accused said he had bought the canvas from the first mate of the last barque that came hero with benzine. The canvas was delivered to witness the same day, and remained in his possession until taken by ConstaWe FitzgLbbon. Doyle had been to see witness once, since selling him the canvas, and asked if the police had been to interview him about it. He said, "You didn't buy a sheet off me," to which witness replied, 'Yes, I did; and that game won't work." Accused then walked out of the phop. To Mr. Joihnstone: He arrived at the price of £lO by assessing it at 3s per yard as the actual cost price at the time of making. There had been advances in canvas lately- From his experience, he considered £lO was all it was worth for the purpose for which he would have to use it. Re-examined by Sub-Inspector Hutton: The canvas would be worth at least Gs per yard to-day, because it was practically unprocurable. Thomas H. Lister, carrier, New Plymouth, said he was at his brother's shop on April 29. He saw accused Doyle there. He had a piece of gTecn canvas in his hand, ami was trying to sell some canvas to his brother. Ho heard his brother offer £lO for the canvas, provided Doyle guaranteed it was according to sample. Doyle gave witness the, job of carting it, and said his address was "Tigertown.'' He drove out by South Road to Belt Road, and Doyle, who was with him, told him he did not live at "Tigertown," to turn down Belt Road. He drove into a paddock off the road. They took the canvas from underneath a house and put it on the cart. The canvas produced was similar to that he got from Doyle and delivered to his brothers shop. Doyle paid for the cartage.

John Eraser, harbormaster's assistant, New Plymouth, said he had never previously seen the canvas then in court. On April 27 tho workers knocked off at IEMS p.m. 'He knew the two accused. Had tho canvas been left by a steamer and had any of the officials seen it, they woul/1 have put it on one side. The employees would have no right to take it away unless it belonged to them.

To Mr. Johnstone: He had known the accused Wilson as a worker on the wharf for over 20 years, and did not think him likely to commit theft. Plain-clothes Constable Fitzgibbon, New Plymouth, said that on May S he interviewed the defendant Wilson, at the wharf, and told him he wanted to find an owner for a large, green sailcloth that lie believed had come from the wharf. Wilson said he knew nothing about it. He had never seen one, nor had he assisted Doyle to remove such a thing. A signed statement to that effect was put in. Witness also interviewed Doyle on the same day, and he denied all knowledge of the sailcloth. He made a statement, in the course of wliioh he denied ever getting a sailcloth from an officer of any boat, of attempting to sell 6 uch an article. Accused refused to sign' the statement. The canvas produced was taken possession of from Cook and Lister's shop. Mr. Johnstone sivbmitt;d that there was no case for Wilson to answer. All that he had done was to assist to carry a package from tile wharf to the carrier's cart. The canvas was wrapped up in, scrim, and even Marr (the carrier) did not know what was in it. There was nothing to show that Wilson knew theft was being committed, even if it was committedThe Magistrate held that it was for Wilson to show how he came to be concerned with Doyle in tihe removal of the canvas. On the the usual question being put to him. Wilson elected to give evidence. William Wilson, laborer, said he had v-ork"d for the Xow Plymouth Harbor Board for nearly 14 years. He remembered assisting Doyle to carry a bundle from the wharf 011 Saturday, April 27, He did not know what was in the handle, which was done up in scrim, anil he had nothing to do with sending it away pr selling it. He did not receive any of the proceeds of the sale. Doyle said he had a parcel to get away which was too heavy for one mail to lift, and witness offered to help him to carry it. That was all he had to do with it. To Sub-Inspector Hutton: He did not tell Constable Fitzgibbon he had assisted Doyle to carry a heavy parcel to a carrier's cart. He did not know what was in the parcel, and that was why lie said nothing to tl'e constable about it. He was not curious to know what was in the parcel. He never asked Doyle what, was in the parcel until the inquiries were being made by Constable Fitzgibiwn. Doyle then told him it was canvas. Witness did not aak him what he was going to do with the fanva? He did not consider he hod misled the police by saying lathing aibout helping with the heavy parcel Wiat was pirt on the express. . The Magistrate then scud he did not

consider there was a case against Wilson, and the information was dismissed. In answer to the usual question, Doyle said lie had no statement to make. He pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, to be held on August 19. Bail was allowed, accused in £SO and one surety of £SO, or two sureties of £25 each. ,