THEFT FROM CAMPS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 8

THEFT FROM CAMPS

STORES SENT HOME FORMER MEMBER OF RESERVE OFFENCE CONSIDERED SERIOUS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Friday Military stores were the main exhibit in the Police Court to-day when William Henry Alsweiler, aged 44, was charged with the theft of goods valued at £6 14s, the property of the Defence Department. He pleaded guilty. The police stated that accused had been employed in the stores department at Hopu Hopu and Papakura camps, as a private in the. National Military Reserve. He had been in a position of trust, his duties being to make up provision orders for the various units. He had given goods to a carrier who called at the camp for delivery to his home. This type of offence is looked on seriously by the department, and accused has since been discharged from military service,” added DetectiveSergeant Walsh.

* For accused, who had no previous convictions, Mr Turner said he had a fine record in the last war and had not hesitated to join up again. “Once this canker starts in connection with stores, either in military camps or in city warehouses, it is hard to trace,” said the magistrate. Mr F. H. Levien. Accused was fined £ls, in default one month's imprisonment.