PILLAGED CARGO

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 70, 15 December 1921, Page 11

PILLAGED CARGO

MISSING CASE OF CUTLERY THREE WHARF WORKERS PLEAD GUILTY In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., George Frederick Shinner (Mr. C. B. O’Donnell), John Udall, Alfred James Smith (Mr. A. B. Siovwriglit), and Colin Cami>bell (Mr. G. Watson) were charged with stealing, on August 31, cutlery, silverware, and electro-plated goods, value <£2so. the property of the Federal Steamship Company. Chief Detective Kemp said that tho steamer Dorset was at the wharf discharging cargo on August 31, and there were four cases of cutlery and electroplated goods, consigned to Walker and Hall. Wellington. One case was missing, and another case turned up at Dunedin in a very much pillaged condition. Both cases were in No. 4 hold. Tho accused Shinner was foreman of No. 4 hold, and Campbell was foreman of No. 2 hold. Udall was watchman at No. 4 hold, and it was his duty to see that no pillaging took place. Smith worked in No. 4 hold. Detectives Nuttall and Tricklebank made inquiries, and found £lO worth of cutlery in Shinner’s house, in pampbell’s house £8 10s. worth was found, for which—ire could not account. Udall had £ll worth, and Smith had £IG worth of the property. The property recovered was worth about £4l 12s. Id., and the rest was missing. Claude Ashendon, timekeeper for the New Zealand Shipping Company, gave formal evidence as to the four accused being employed on the vessel. Frank Jelly, superintendent stevedore, stated that Shinner was employed as foreman of No. 4 hatch, and Campbell was foreman of No. 2 hatch. Some weeks after the discharge of the vessel he heard of a case being missed from No. 4 hold. Campbell had been in the employ of the company for 19 years. Kenneth A. Martin, claims clerk in tho employ of the agents of the Federal Steamship Co., gave details of the claim made on the company for the lost goods. Ashes Asher, second-hand dealer, Vivian Street, stated that on September IQ ho bought from tho accused Smith cutlery wliich was quite new and for which witness paid £6 9s. James George H.eilyer, manager [for Walker and Hall. Wellington, said that four cnees of silverware and cutlery were consigned to tho firm from the house in Sheffield. Two of the cases wore received in Wellington intact, but two cases were missing. A month later a case turned up at Dunedin, and on receipt here, was found to have been pillaged. The value of tho goods missing was £lO2 7s’. One case which had not turned up at all, had contained goods valued at £334 7s. Witness had examined the whole of the cutlery in Court, and identified it as tho property of Walker and Hall; it had been in the cases missing. Detectives Tricklebank and Nuttall described their searches of accuseds’ houses and the goods found there. Campbell pleaded not guilty, Shinner pleaded guilty to stealing £25 worth of the goods, Udall .pleaded guilty to taking £25 worth, and Smith pleaded guilty to the theft of £l4 15s. worth. Campbell was committed for trial, and tho others were committed for sentence. Campbell was admitted to bail in one surety of £2OO. or’ two sureties of £lOO each.

Shinner was further charged with stealing two pairs of silk stockings, value 30s.’, from the Tahiti, the property of tho Union S.S. Co. To this charge he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to a ■month’s imprisonment. John Udall was ■ convicted of having a German .automatic pistol and ammunition in his possession. He was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment.

An Alleged Receiver of Stolen Property. Joseph Marshall was charged with receiving from John Udalbon September 1 goods to the value of £l2. knowing the same to have' been dishonestly obtained. Mr. W. E. Leicester appeared for the accused.

Chief Defective Kemp, who appeared for tlie police, said that tho accused was tho keeper of a restaurant ou the wharf, and about three mouths ago he was askeil' by Udall to buy some cutlery. Me had no need of tho cutlery, nevertheless he went to Udall's house and bought stainless knives, spoons, etc., for £l4. Shortly afterwards ho sold the goods to a friend. Janies G. Helyer and Kenneth A. Martin gave evidence as in the theft cases.

Udall said that about tho end of AugiiJr he had somo cutlery which, he had pillaged from the Dorset. He offered some of it for sale to tho accused, who paid witness £l4. Detective Nuttall said that, accompanied by Detective Tricklebank, he interviewed the accused, who denied having bought any cutlery from anybody, except in a shop. Later he admitted purchasing certain cutlery for £l4 from Udall, and selling it to a man who went to Sydney. Detective Tricklebank corroborated this evidence.

The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to tho Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in eno surety of .£2OO, or two of £lOO each. A Cutlery Hawker Pleads Guilty. Henry Henniker Boulden was charged with receiving from George F. Shinner cutlery to tho value of £l2, knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained. Mr. A. B. Sievwright appeared for the accused.

Chief Detective Kemp said that the accused, a hawker, had arranged with Shinner to sell some of tho cutlery stolen by the latter.

Kenneth A. Martin and James G. Helyer repeated the evidence they gave In the previous case. Detective Nuttall said that he interviewed the accused, and showed him tho statement made by Shinner. He admitted that he had had some cutlery from Shinner, and signed a written statement to that effect. On December 2 th® detectiro called at a certain House, and recovered the knives. The accused pleaded guilty, and wns committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.