ALLEGED PILLAGING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 233, 20 June 1918, Page 6

ALLEGED PILLAGING

WATERSIDE WORKER CHARGED ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Another case of alleged pillaging from' the cargo of a steamer was heard at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when a waterside worker named John Bird was charged with having stob'i on r une 10 six tins of herrings and tomato sauce, valued at 95., the property of the Union Steam Ship Company. Chief Detective Boddam prosecuted, and Mr. J. Scott appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. Mr. P. V. Frazer, S.M., was on the bench. Chief Detective Boidam stated that on the date of the information Constable Cleverly was on duty near the gates of the King's Wharf. About 11.45 a.m. the constable saw the accused coming out of the gates, no noticed that the man's right arm was stiff, and that he was apparently trying to conceal something. The constable touched one of the man ai pockets and felt something hard. He asked Bird what he had," and the latter replied, "A tin of fish I got off one of the sailors on the Kurow." The constable detained the man and found five more tins of fish, in Ms possession. Accused afterwards stated that he got the tins in the hold of the vessel. On the same night Bird's house was searched and more tins were found. When asked for an explanation accused said he would make none. Constable Cleverly said he noticed thai accused near the King's Wharf gates, and he asked him what he had undor his arm. Accused said it was a tin of fish which he had got from a eailor on the Kurow. Witness „ suggested going hack to interview the sailor who accused said had given him the fish, when Biid stated that hi did not pet it from a sailor, but from the ship's hold. Wit* ness searched accused's pockets and found five other tins in his possession. Between 8 and 9 o'clock on the same evening, in company with Dctective-Str-geant Cox, witness went to lit- Abal Smith Street, where accused lived., audi found there a further four tins of her-* rings and tomato sauce. When charged! with tlft theft of the four tins found In his house accused said he would give no explanation. Samuel Davidson, watchman in the em* ploy of the Customs Department, into .vhoso office accused vas brought by Constable Cleverly, slated that accused told him he had found the tins in the ship's hold', and that he did not think there was any harm in taking them. Henry Somes, foreman for the Unioni Steam 'Ship Company, said accused was one of a gang employed in No. 2 hold of the Kurow. Amonj the cargo to ba discharged were a number of' cases of herrings and tomato sauce. Harold R. 'Young, third officer r.f the Kurow, said that on account of the secure way in which the cases containing the tins were fastened it was unlikely, that (hev would have been damaged. ' Accused reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supremo -.Court for trial. Bail was allowed-in the sum OS #25 and ono surety of .£25. On two further charges of stealing eight tins of Rex cheese, of' the valui of 8s„ and thiee bottles of whisky, valued at J3l, the property of Ihe Union Steam Ship Company, accused was remanded until August 21.' it was alleged that the cheese was stolen en June 4, ana the whisky on or about April 27.