ALLEGED PILLAGING OF CARGO

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 7, 3 October 1918, Page 7

ALLEGED PILLAGING OF CARGO

WATERSIDE WORKER ACQUITTED A waterside worker linmetl Henry Penrce was charged with the tlieft of a bottle of Wiiicarnis, valued.at os. 6(1., the property of tho Wellington Haiftour Board, i(i the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Sir. W. G. Riddell, S.M. CJiiof-Detectivo Boddam prosecuted, and Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for tho accused, who pleaded not guilty, Arthur ■ Henry Waugh, carpenter, employed by tho U.S.S. Co., said he was at work in a shed at tho King's Wharf, and saw accused handling some cases which contained Wincarnis wine. Later, witness saw Pearce with a bottle of the wine in his possesssion. Witness: saw Pearce put the bottle behind a case, and witness went round and found the bottle. Jjater, witness spoke to accused, and told him that he Sid not think ho would have done such a thing,- and .warned liini that he would get into trouble. Cross-examined, witness said lie did not actually see the accused put the bottle down behind the case. Accused never said anything about medicine whoii witness spoko to him. Accused might have huug -up his hook when he went behind the case. William Edward Houghton, who was in charge of the shed on the date in question, said that accused was working in • the shed. He had the opportrniitj-, in common with others, of getting near the cases of wine. The accused, in his evidence, said lie had been working on the .wharf (for fifteen years; and had never been'previously charged with any offence.' He •was working' in 'the shod on the day in question, and lie. remembered going near some cases and hanging up his hook preparatory to going out. He asked a. mate to. keep an eye on'tho hook until lie returned. He never 'saw Waugh at any time. Waugh spoke to him later on, and asked him a'bout a bottle of medicine. Ho never said anything about wine. .Henry-Potts, .a waterside worker, said he was working with Pearce in No. 1 shed, King's Wharf. He remembered 'Pearce asking him to keep an eye on his hook, which he had hung up, whilo ho was. out. Tho Magistrate .said that while' the evidence threw a great deal of suspicion on the accused ho was not satisfied that tlic evidence provided sufficient proof, The case was. accordingly dismissed.