ALLEGED THEFT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1920, Page 5

ALLEGED THEFT.

THREE MEN IN COURT.^ By Teletraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, Last NightMr. G. Cruikshank, 8.M., was occupied for the greater part of the day with the hearing of a, number of charges of theft of petrol. ' William Joseph Lyons, William Holland, and William Edward Duthie were charged with, on or about February ID, stealing 75 cases of motor spirit, valued at £lOl ss, the property of Messrs, J. O. Ward and Co. Lyons and Holland were charged with, on the same date, -'.' . ..ing and entering the premises of Messrs Briscoe and Co., and stealing (herefrom 75 cases of motor spirit, valued at £lOl as, the property of Messrs J. G. Ward and Co. and another. Duthie was charged with stealing, on February 12, 52 cases of motor spirit, the property of Messrs. J. CI. Ward and Co. Duthie was further charged with focciiin.tr "5 cases, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained, and with receiving 52 cases under similar circumstances. The evidence showed that Ward and Co. discovered a total shortage of 440 cases in a portion of a shipment of 5500 cases stored in Briscoes' warehouse, of ivhich they had the use. Tho police stated that 127 cases had been traced, and 5S recovered. The evidence showed that the petrol had been carted away from the store, in which Holland was employed. Several taxi proprietors gave evidence as to purcl.:.sing large quantities of petrol from Lyons and Duthie. The accused reserved their defence, and were comntittecl for trial on all charges,