An Alleged Theft.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 519, 16 October 1890, Page 2

An Alleged Theft.

Messrs H. and C. C. Lucas were the Justices who presided at the Police Court on Tuesday morning, when John R /bort Hurray was charged with the larceny of fear and a half sacks of charcoal, valued at ISs, tho property of Kirk, Lainged, and Haisman, charcoal burners, Whataupoko. Mr I«. Rees appeared for the accuse'], pleaded nob guilty. The Bench agreed to allow the case to bo doalt with summarily. From the evidf nee of W. M. Kirk it appeared that the informants hold a contract for supplying the freezing works with charcoal at 3s lOd par ba?, delivered; and that Surrey held a sub-contract with them for grinding it. They gave no permission to the accused to remove any of the charcoal, and cautioned him against using it for the engine, though on several occasions they found he was doing so. By their contract with Hurrey, they were supposed to keep him supplied with firewood, but the accused had once or twice complained about not having a sufficient supply of wood, and this gave rise to a disagreement between them. Subsequently they had their suspicions aroused by the small quantities of charcoal that were being returned by the accused, and ho (Kirk) decided to watch Surrey. Accordingly he conceal’d himself on Monday evening last, and saw the ac* cased take the charcoal and put it in his cart, and drive away with it. He immediately came into town and gave information to the police, and Constable Reddell arrested the accused on this side of the Taruhcru bridge. When Lainged mot Hurray on the bridge ha admitted taking the charcoal, and said that he had charged it in his account. The witness said the firm might owe the accused £2 or £3. Hurrey then went into the witness box and told a pitiful tale. Ho and his three eons were working together, and his boys had barely sufficient clothing to cover them, their boots having to be tied together with flax Before removing the charcoal he sent one of his sons to tell Kirk that he was taking it, but the boy returned without being able to find him. Ho was in need of fuel that night or otherwise ho would not have taken it, as ho did not consider it any harm, knowing the firm were indebted to him in about £27, but . out of that amount there was some contra account to be deducted. The Bench said there was no proof whatever that Hurrey had any felonious intent, and there was every probability that he would have charged himself with the value of the charCoaLJXThc Charge was accordingly dismissed.