ALLEGED CARGO PILFERING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 201, 20 May 1920, Page 6

ALLEGED CARGO PILFERING

WATERSIDER SENT FOE TRIAL. A waterside worker named Gordon Davis, for whom Mr. W. G. Hellish appeared, was charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. W. G. Hidden, S.M., that between January 1 and April 23 he stole a tweed overcoat, a pair of suede bhoes, a length of tweed, a pair of goloshes, two pairs of ladies' shoes, six knives and seven spoons, 8 pairs of ladies' stockings, 4 pairs of men's socks, 25 yards of whitiJ silk, a woollen sweater, a pair of trousers. 4 Mosgiel singlets, two ladies' purses, and 6 tubes of toothpaste, of the total value of £40 ss. 6d., the property of divers persons ' Chief Detective Ward prosecuted. Gordon R. Tin-ell, salesman in the cm'ploy of Bond and Co., said the firm received a case of stockings ex s.s. Mberaki, and when the case was examined by a Customs official it was found that 15* dozen pairs were missing. The stockings produced were of similar brand to those imported by the firm, and cost 915.-per dozen, pairs. William Alexander Smith, claims clerk in the employ of the Union Steam Ship Company, said that on January 3 he examined a case of stockings consigned to Bond and Co'., which plumed signs of having been pillaged. The value of the good" missing, was £64 6s. 7d., and a claim had been made on the company. Andrew G. Taylor, timekeeper for tho Union Co., testified to the accused having . been employed in the No. 4 hold of tho s.s. Moci-.iki on December 29 and 30 last. Percy Jones. Customs clerk in the employ of King, Harris and Co., stated that, on April 14 flic SV'm received" a bale of ladles' sweatees from the Bruce Mills, that were sfilppcd" per s.s. Kini. The bale disclosed signs of having been pillaged, and on examination it was found that some of the gonda were missing. The sweaters were valued at 12s. Cd. each. The sweater produced was similar to that bought by the firm. Alexander Smith, salesman employed by Wright, Dixon and Witt, gave evidence as to the pillaging of a case of Roslyn men's underwear, ex a.m. Tarawera. A bale of men's socks by the same vessel had also been pillaged. Alexander Naismitb. superintendent in charge of the Union Company's stores in Wellington, identified the knives and spoons, on some of which were the brand of the company. John A. i-'ovsyth, salesman employed by George Doughty and Co., said that on April 20 the firm shipped a case of goods which included six pairs of suede shoes to a customer in Gisborue. The case was shinned per s.s. Ripple. Henry C. Guthrie, labour foreman for Richardson and Co., stated that the accused was engaged on Anril 20 in loading the. Ripple for Napier and Gisborne. Tho accused worked in No. 1 hold. . Detective Tricklelrank stated that he' arrested the accused on April 23 on another charge. The accused was asked if he had any stolen property in his bouse, and ho denied having any there. The house was searched, and the goods enumerated in the ehai'Bo were.found. The tweed overcoat, which was apparently now. was hanging up in the passage, and inside tho sleeves of the coat was a pair ofsuedo shoes. The other goods were found in a bedroom, some being in a wardroDc and some in a dress basket. The knives and spoons were in a drawer in the kitchen'. The accused made a statement in which he declared the goods had been purchased at various times by himself or his wife. The accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to tho Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in £100 and one surety of £100, or two' of £50 each.