ALLEGED THEFT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1921, Page 5

ALLEGED THEFT.

GOODS FROM DEFENCE STORES.

THE JURY DISAGREE.

By Telegraph —Press Assodatfcm. Wellington, Last Night. In a charge heard at the Supreme Court against four gunners of the New Zealand Royal Artillery—Charles Lennox, Benge Gould, Alfred Smith, and Walter Young—who were alleged to have stolen cigarettes from the Defence stores, the .Judge ordered Gould to be discharged, there being no evidence incriminating him. The goods were stored in Alexandra barracks and there was a deficiency of £143 in the canteen stores. The building is close to the street and the goods were in a corridor, and anybody could have access to them. There were some officials in the building, but no one had verified the check on the canteen stores. Accused slept on the premises during the holidays, but there was nothing to deter outsiders getting access to the goods.

Detectives’ evidence was that Young admitted stealing a quantity of tobacco and cigarettes. It was the practice of •ill men at the barracks to smoke cigarettes and eat. groceries taken from 1 cases in the corridor. Lennox and >mith made similar admissions. Gould denied all knowledge of the thefts. The detectives were cross-examined at ! considerable length as to their methods of taking statements from the accused. The detectives said they took accused to the police station because it was necessary to have their statements typed in duplicate. Young made a statement and then said he would make a clean breast of the whole affair. Counsel: Did you say if he did it would be to his interest? Witness said Young asked what was the chance for probation, and witness said it would help if he cleared up the whole thing. The jury disagreed, and said there was no chance of agreeing.