EMBEZZLING CARGO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 908, 30 August 1910, Page 5

EMBEZZLING CARGO.

•:' ." ''"'■':' .:■:"'-'.' ;'o .. V,; , ■'■'■■ : ; ■ , '■.; ; : FOIJE : MEN SENTENCED. ,-, . . : ffly Telegraph-Press Association.) ■ ■ '.'■ . . DuMedin, August 29.:. Four members of.the crew of. thesfei.-, '..'■, mer Kia Ora, who during the voyage from London v k> Dunedin embezzled cargo, _**came before Mr. .Widdowso,n, S.M. Tliis morning -for sentence. . The men were' . jcharged as follows-.— ' ■' ;■ • John William Mills (bos'n), embezzling ■ - a coil of rope, of the valuo of M. -'. James' Hayton Barter .. (fourth' officer), embezzling -suit-case, hats, stockings, . brooohes, etc., valued at; £3. : - ' ■'■■" Ernest- Frederick Guest and Archibald, .Ernest. Kerrick (seamen), embezzling, electro-plated jam . dishes, : brooches, ■.■ -watches,-/108 ■ yards .of binding, hair ~' combs, hats, hearthrugs, sideboard covers, ". suit-cases,-etc., of the value-of £32.. All had pleaded guilty. ■■'.■■ ''"" Mills was dealt with first. His Worship said it appeared, that accused had hitherto borne a good character.' It was a serious, offence, and . one which '. ' rendered him liable to not only to forfeit out of his wages the amount of the goods, but at. the direction of the Court to imprisonment for "twelve months. Ac- '■' cused would be ordered to forfeit out of . his wages. a sum equal to the loss sustained (£4), and sentenced to one month's ■'-. imprisonment in Dnnedin gaol. Barter, Guest, and 'Kerrick were dealt , with together. His. Worship said the - circumstances '., surrounding , the offence committed by Guest and Kerrick showed — they had very little regard for the safety of the ship. He looked upon their offence as very-serious, and they would be. ordered to forfeit out Of their wages an amount equal to, the value of the goods > {£32), and in addition would each be .'. sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hnrd labour. : With regard to the officer, his Worship said he looked upon his offence as more serious than tlio offences of- the others. Barter had not / only been implicated with the men, but had committed a very grave breach of responsible duty and trust. As an officer he would be ordered to forfeit out of his Tfages the amount of tho loss sustained (£3), and in addition would be sentenced to nine months' imprisonment with hard Jabour. : .