PILLAGING ON S.S. RIMUTAKA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1031, 21 January 1911, Page 6

PILLAGING ON S.S. RIMUTAKA.

ONE ACCOMPLISHED WITNESS, (By. Telesraph.—Press Association,)'" Duneilin, January 20. Mr. "SViddowson, S3L, was .occupied from before eleven o'clock, this morn- ' ing till a quarter past sis hearing charges against Joseph Brice, Charles John Cripps (seamen), and George Stewart (boatswain) .of the s.s. Rimutaka of pillaging cargo-at Albany. It was alleged that beer, to the value of £S5 10s., had been stolen. Evidence was given by Cecil Grahanw Gorge, -first officer, -who: said that, av 9 o'clock on the morning of January; 9, he went down, into the baggage room*; but saw jiotbing. suspicious. Percy Ross, assistant steward, said!, that .lie was paid Is. a month, and had, formerly been • a music-hall artist, in-J suranco agent, solicitor's clerk, barris-4 ter's clerk,, and judge's clerk. He de-/ posed that, about 10.30 a.m. on January 9 .'ho saw Stewart, who had been drinking. He also saw the boatswain, take a bottle of beer from a case and) hand it',to the quartermaster who putit" under his jumper. ' Afterwards hej .saw the boatswain, and two of the. crew tako a case up from t'no hold. Other witnesses gave evidence afij great length and it was elicited that, I altogt-her 117 bottles were missing. i . Bruce and Cripps absolutely, denied j ■ complicity. ' ' . • . Mr. .Hawlrius addressed the bench, on.. behalf of Stewart who had been- 23 j years at sea. At tho wreck of. tlioj s.s. Maori, near .Capo Town, he succeeded m piloting a boat to safety*. For this lie had received a gold watch,; chain, and medal. . , „ , Stewart, in evidence, denied all know- • ledge of the theft. Moreover, he .had, a bottle of whisky in his room untouched, and a bottle of porter. . 1 The magistrate said that the evidence, as to the = identity of Brico and Cripps; was inconclusive, and they would bedischarged. He ordered Stewart to pay,.£2 105.,-tie value of the beer and _75. ; costs, and to undergo one "month's imy" prisonmer.t. . - ■