CARGO PILFERING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 248, 8 July 1918, Page 4

CARGO PILFERING

THEFT OJ' , WHISKY. Another case of pillaging from a ship was heard at tho Magistrate's Court before Mr. V. V. J'Yazer, S.M., on Saturday, when a waterside, worker named Arthur O'Neill was charged with the theft of two bottles of whisky, valued at 175., tho property 'of Levin and Co. Tho oil'enco was alleged to have taken place on the steamer Wairau. Inspector Marsack stilted that tho accused went on board tho boat after tho lunch hour on (he day of tho olfenco perfectly sober, but between 3 and 1 o'clock ho enme ashoro in such a statG of drunkenness that he had to be arrested. When the vessel arrived at Blenheim it was found that, a ca.se of Dewar'e whisky had boon broken open and two bottles were missing. Later, a bottlo was found near (ho place where O'Neill had been working. O'Neill denied thiit ho took tho whisky, and said that the only liquor he had had wns at the Pier Hotel. His Worship hold that accused must be convicted. ' Mr. H. 17.I 7 . O'Leary, who nppcared for O'Neill, asked that a fine only ehould be imposed, stating that (lie man had been severely wounded in tho head while on active service. There were also exceptional family circumstance which counsel ur"etl should be taken into consideration. "I intended to give you n month, O'Neill," remarked His Worship, who naid that as a rule the Court was averss fcn beincf influenced by family pleas. In the present rase, however, the circumanal family eircumstiwces which counsel bo placed on probation for two years, and prohibited for Hint period. Mr. IWor said that if O'Neill took any liquor durin" the two yews and the matter was reported he would be imprisoned.