DARWIN. Feb. 23: The "valves case" began in the Darwin Police Court today with the Crown alleging that two Melbourne business men followed a checking clerk round various lots of disposal goods at a sale in Darwin last October and that, after the clerk had checked off the goods, the two accused stole wireless valves, placed them on lots they had purchased and then arranged for an R.A.A.F. working party to carry the goods away.
The two accused - Donald Speed (37), of Bruce-street, Toorak, managing-director of Autoterms Ltd., Melbourne, described by his counsel as "one of Melbourne's most prominent business men," and Allen Leslie Penrose, accountant, of Gardenvale-road, Caulfield - were both charged with having stolen 6,446 wireless valves valued at £4,295 from the Commonwealth at Darwin about October 17 last year.
Allan Elliott Yelland, a member of an Adelaide firm of auctioneers which conducted the particular sale in Darwin, said that the goods for sale were kept under tables and a sample piece was displayed on top. There was some confusion at the sale. Up to 100 buyers were present and three lorries and loading parties were allowed in at a time. A man named Jacobsen reported a large discrepancy in the number of valves he had bought and there were complaints about discrepancies in the quantities of other goods.
It had been the practice to knock down to Speed at the minimum price any goods for which there was no bid. However, there was no such arrangement in regard to the valves. About a week after the sale an R.A.A.F. man named Howard told witness that he had seen Speed handling valves in a shed.
The hearing will be continued tomorrow.
Source: Trove The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Tuesday 24 February 1948 Page 15