ON THE HIGH SEAS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 7, 3 October 1919, Page 7

ON THE HIGH SEAS

VALUABLE SECURITIES STOLEN

SOLDIER PLEADS GUILTY

While the transport Cordoba was approaching Wellingtcn at an early hour on Wednesday morning a soldier stole a mail bag and its contents, and threw them into the sea. I'htj soldier, William Frv, was handed over to the civil police, and yesterday morning he pleaded guilty at "the Magistrate's Court, before Air. E. Page, t5.i1., to a charge of theft of a mail bag containing valuable securities, the property-, of the New Zealand Government. Sub-Inspector Emerson prosecuted and Mr. C. B. O'Donnelt represented the accused. In outlining the cise the sub-inspector stated that the accxsed was a member of the returning draft on the Cordoba. Some'time between 2.30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Wednesday lie wis seen by two trlinmors in possession of a mail bag. He was seen to out iiw bag open with a knife and-extract, Iho contents. The trimmers then informed the office]- on the watch, who also.saw the accused with the bag. Later the accused was seen to throw several jwtknges in to the sea. The mail was being carried under the charge of a corporal, and when the postal authorities took it over one bag was missing. Daniel M'Aulilfe, trimmer on the Cordoba, Walter Lyndec Styrong, second officer. and Thomas Lyiach, chef, gave evidence in corroboration of Sub-Inspector Emerson's statements. Frederick William Chapman, foreign -mail clerk at the G.P.0., gave evidence as to the quantity of mail matter brought by the Cordoba.' To Mr. O'.Donnell: The missing bag chieflv contained books, packages, ■ and newspapers, but he could not say if there were anv valuables in it. Plain-clothes Constable Tricklebank, stationed on the whnrf, said that ho interviewed the accused, who made a statement denying that he had interfered with the mail bags, when charged he mnde no roply. There was no trace of the missing mail bag. At ( the conclusion of the evidence tho accused pleaded guilty, and was committed' to the Supreme Court for sentence. In applying for bail, Mr. O'Donnell Raid that the accused had just returned from the front after three years' service, and his wife and child were waiting for him in the King Country. His Worship refust d bail.