THE NAVUA ROBBERY

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2024, 8 March 1907, Page 1

THE NAVUA ROBBERY

CONFESSIONS OF GUILT

On the voyage of tho Union Steamship Company’s s.s. Navua from Sydney to Auckland, between October 10 and November 7, 1900, tho strongroom of tho vessel was onterod, and a box containing 1000 sovereigns .was stolon. Upon arrival at Auckland tho stoamor was searched, but the police wero unsuccessful in thoir quest for the missing gold, and tho person or persons who had taken it. The robbery exorcised the minds of tho Auckland and Sydney detective force for some time, and on January 25th Patrick Manning, who was a seaman on board tho s.s. Navua at tho time of the robbery, was arrested. Ilis arrest was followed by tho arrest of Christie, third officer of the Navua at the time of tho theft, and also by the placing in custody on a different charge connected with the robbory of two Auckland residents, Charles G. F. Popper and Herbert Howlott. Manning and Christie wero arrested in Sydney, and the cases were to have been hoard there, but no evidence was offered, and the charge of robbery was withdrawn, as the result of instructions from tho Auckland police. The accused then came over to Auckland, by thoir own consent, and in company with two detectives. Immediately upon arrival they wero rearrested on the following charge:— “That being British subjects, and the servants of the Union Steamship Company, between October 16 and November 7, 1906, while on the British steamship Navua, then being on the high seas, between Sydney and Auckland, they did steal £IOOO in money belonging to .Lever Brothers, Ltd., and then in possession of the Union Stonmsliip Company.” On Monday accused were brought before Mr R. AV. Dyer, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, when the charges ve.ro heard. Christie, who is 26 years of age, and of smart build, was not represented by counsel, while Manning, who is also 26 years of ago, had Mr J. R. London appearing for him. Mr Selwyn Mays conducted the case for the prosecution,

A young shipping clerk In the employ of Messrs Lever Brothers, Ltd., Sydney, named Arthur G. Slochum, statod that on October 16 he placed a sealed box, containing 1000 sovereigns on board the s.s. Navua, handing it to Captain McLean for storago in tho strongroom. Tho Union Company were hold responsible for the money.

Captain Donald McLean, of the s.s. Navua, gave evidence as to the receipt of the gold, which was for Messrs Lover Brothers’, Ltd., agonts in Nukualofa. Ho had two keys for the safe, keeping one in a drawer in his room. Christie’s cabin adjoined witness’, and the accused would often have to enter tho latter. The gold was missed at Haapai.

In reply to Christie, witness said that he had always found him (Christie) to bo a trustworthy and reliable officer. “I am sorry to see you here,” concluded the captain, “because you had a better future before you.” A' DETECTIVE'S INVESTIGATIONS. Detective J. Walker, of Sydney, stated that on January 26, in consequence of information he had received he visited the Brooklyn Hotel, Sydney, in company with -Detective Malpne, and found Manning in the bar. AA'it.ness asked Manning to come over to the water police station to give some particulars about the Navua. He consented, and there ho was left with Malone. Witness then obtained a search warrant, and said to Manning upon his return, “Do you know anything about the robbery pn the Navua?" He " received a negative reply, and then asked Manning if lie had any money on him. Manning replied, “Yes; two sovereigns.” AVitness then asked him if ho had any at the hotel, and Manning replied, “Yes, about 1 140 sovereigns.” Questioned as to how he got it, Manning said he won it at Ellerslie. AA 7 itness apd Malone then visited Manning’s room at the Brooklyn Hotel, apt} m a drawer in his room found a cigar box and the brown paper (produced), addressed to Christie, care of Seamen’s Institute. Witness then" left the hotel, but before doing so the daughter of the licensee gave witness a gold opal brooch and a small neck chain. Manning was not then present. Witness next asked Manning what was in the cigar box, apd lie replied, “250 sovereigns.” AVitness asked, “Where did you get it?” and Manning replied, “You’ll get it at the proper time.” In the cigar box v r as a letter addressed to Christie, and signed “Meg.” In the box a belt was found containing a number of sovereigns. They were counted in Manning’s presence, and totalled 250. In a pocket-book was found two New Zealand £5 notes. Inquiries were then made for Christie. Manning was asked who Christie was, and he replied, “Third officer on the Navua. Manning was then charged with stealing a box containing 1000 sovereigns, the property of Lever Brothers, Ltd., and to this he made no reply. Next day witness saw Manning and said to him, “How much money did you win at the races altogether?” Manning replied, “About £800.” “Whore is it?” asked witness. “At Auckland. I won’t tell you where it is, as you will collar it too,” said Manning. On January 26 witness saw Christie at Sydney on the s.s. Manuka. Witness asked him about tho box being addressed to him, care of Seamen’s Institute, Sydney, and he said that he had no arrangement with Manning about it. Witness asked him to think again if there was not 1 some arrangement, and be replied, “Oil, yes; ho had to leave a box of fishing linos there for me.” Witness asked him if he could give a reason for Manning’s intending to leave him 250 sovereigns, and he replied, “No.” Christie was then taken to the police station, and he and his luggage were searched, and a quantity of jewellery was found. Christie then made a statement, which was taken down by Detective Malone. This statement gave a denial to everything. Christie was then charged, “That, in company with Manning, he did steal 1000 sovereigns, etc.” He made no reply. THE CONFESSIONS. Witness saw Christie later, and said to him, “Do you want to see me?” Christie replied, “I’m glad you’ve come. I wish to tell you the whole truth about the Navua robbery.” He then made the statement produced, which w as read to him and signed. It read as follows:

“About three months before the robbery I was on watch one night. Patrick Manning was on the lookout, and was on the bridge with me. Manning spoke of making some money, and getting away from going to sea. He said something about wishing that he could get to rob a bank or a safe. . . When we left Sydney I was not aware that there was any gold on board. . . The night after we left Levuka Manning said to me: ‘Was there any gold on board at Levuka ?’ I said: ‘I do not know, but I know some gold came on board at Sydney.’ Wo then arranged (Manning and myself) that we would try and get some of the money

that was on it was also agreed hotwoon }ia?thut I.should go down and got it, as no notico would ho taken of me if T was. seen in tho saloon. On the follOWing'night I went to t ho. captain’s room* while he was in tho smokoroomCjind got. the keys from a drawer in'Tho captain’s desk. 1 kept the keys until midnight, when I left the bridge, jyeut down and hud my usual hath, t-hjjn'l went and opened tho outer doortof the strongroom, and then opened (lie safe. I groped around in the durkD and" then folt two large boxes and a small one. I took the small one, imagining that 1 was only stealing a small amount, and locked the safe and outer door again. When 1 took tho hoic out of the saJo [ put it 1 into an opon’easo beside the funnel, on the top dock,-and covered it over with an oilskin-coat'. 1 saw Patrick Manning early tho following morning, and said to him, ‘I have got a box of money in .a ease beside-the funnel on the top deck.’ He said, ‘l’ll get it stowedrawny to-niglit.’ I replaced - the keys - ill tho captain’s drawer whilst lie was below on that night. I was nj) lyatch between eight and twelve. ,1 c>aw Manning come up and take kiio-box of money from tho case where I had put it. Ho took it down to tho main deck in the oilskin coat, and to the best of my belief put it down tho hold. On tho Sunday we wero anchored in the bay, and Manning and myself went down the hold and opened the box. AVo transferred the gold into two bags—cloth bags—and stowed the bags under a bag of sugar. AVlien we opened the box I saw that it -contained sovereigns, and I judged by the appearance that there would bo 500. After this, and while at Samoa, Manning went down tho hold, put the box into a sack witli something heavy, tied it, and threw it up to me. I pushed it through the porthole into the sea. . ,

“The bags remained in the hold until the night before we got to Auckland. On that night I got up and gave it to Manning. Later on that night he got the other up and stowed them about the deck. One was sown up in a bag of sulphur in one of the native water-closets; the other one lie put in a bilge pump pipe. AVe arrived in Auckland on the night l following this and anchored in the stream. . 1 . The following day Patrick Manning told me that he had got one of the bags of gold ashore. It was the bag concealed in tho sulphur which he took ashore first. . . There was an understanding between us that Manning should leave the ship at* Auckland, and to accomplish this hp got drunk and stayed away a day. He was dismissed ■ from the ship on the Monday or | Tuesday, November 12 or-13. Before j Manning put the bag of gold in tho bilge-pump pipe he counted out of it 100 sovereigns, made a bag of his handkerchief, and put them in one of the water-closets. On Saturday, November 10, I got the bag of sovereigns out of the bilge-pump pipe and gave them to Manning. He concealed them somewhere on his person, and I went to my room. . . “AVlien we heard from the captain j that the stolen box contained 1000 j sovereigns we agreed to divide it in I equal shares. 1 mot- Manning iff j Queen street, Auckland, on the day before we sailed from Auckland. He said, ‘l’ll give you iny address,’ but he did not do so, and wo left Auckland for tlitj If(l|i})d-5 PP Wednesday, November 14, ’lfo6. The hundred sovereigns were still on board when: w i sailed. During the voyage I took this money and put it in my room, j I have spent £4O out of the 100 sove- , reigns. The balance I still have, and will deliver up. The words ‘fishing gear’ in Manning’s letter shown to me mppnt sovereigns, my part of the stolen £IOOO.

“It was arranged between Manning and jnyself that I should come to Sydney. Ho gave me his address at the Brooklyn Hotel. . . I saw Manning at Sydney, but did not speak to him. When I got to Suva 1 cabled Manning, ‘Wait Sydney, writing mailboat; cable answer,’ but got no reply. I wrote to Manning from Suya to the Brooklyn Hotel and told him to wrap up my fishing lines (meaning my share of the money) and send them to, and loave them, with Mr Moss at tho Seamen’s Institute, Sydney, and to cable me if he did so. After this, on arrival at Auckland, I received a cable front Manning, ‘Molly arrived, coming through.’ I understood from this cable that my money would be for me at Mr Moss’, Seamen’s Institute, Sydney. Some time after we got the box out of tho safe it was arranged between Manning and myself that he (Manning) was-to bring the sovereigns to Sydney. “AVlien we arrived at Auckland on the last trip Captain McLean, captain of the Navua, was called South ti a meeting of his directors. I was feeling unwell, and consulted a doctor, who gave me a certificate of being unfit for duty. I fool; t-hfit (lertificate to the Auckland office, and they had me relieved from the Navua. I had thoroughly made up my mind that if anything happened to Captain McLean over his loss of the gold that I would go down to Dunedin and make a full confession before the directors, and throw myself on their mercy. 1 met Captain McLean when he returned to Auckland, and ho told me he had got on all right. “1 was coining to Sydney lor an examination, and came over to Auckland on the Manuka. I did not go ashore, and went to Newcastlo when sho went there for coal. My illness was caused through worry and remorse over having committed this robbery.

“No person on board or elsewhere had anything to do with the robbery, only Manning and myself.” Manning admitted ill writing the accuracy of Christie’s statement. He also said:—“l am glad that ho has made it. I was only trying to screen him. You might as well know now where the rest of the money is. It’s in Auckland. 1 left it in the care of Charlie Popper, Mount Roskill Road. Auckland. I believe the amount to be about £SOO. The box is in his bedroom, in a wooden box, which was intended for a sea chest.

THE EVIDENCE CONTINUED. The detective, -continuing his evidence, stated that Christie afterwards said, “I only got £IOO, out of which t spent £4O. I have got the balance, £60.”

Christie’s statement was then read to Manning, and when asked if he had anything to say, he replied, “That’s all true. I am glad he made it. I will tell you where the rest of the money is to be found.” He then said it was in charge of Charles Pepper, Mount Roskill Road, Auckland. . Manning, in order to accelerate the getting of this money wrote a letter to Pepper, saying, “It was not won at the races. It was from the Nnvua.” In reply to Christie, Detective Walker said that he (Christie) had given every possible assistance to have the matter cleared up. He could not have given more than he had done. Witness considered that the only benefit Christie had received was the £lO. In reply to another question from Christie, as to liis (Christie’s) reputation in. Sydney, the

dotoctivo said that it was the highest possible up to the time of this affair. Detective Thomas Malone, of Sydnoy, said that lie -could corroborate Dotoctivo AValkcr’s evidence in every detail.

Chief Defective Marsark, of the Auckland police force, who arrested Manning and Christie oil the s.s. Manuka, oil Sunday afternoon, immediately upon arrival, said thatwhen they were charged both replied, “That’s all right.” Later they signified their intention of pleading guilty. Both expressed a desire to clear the matter up as far as possible. Clirislio paid that- Die gold watch and chain, which had been found amongst bis jewellery, bad been purchased by bis own private money at Auckland, on November 10. The total amount recovered t'o date ol tho £IOOO, was £558. Forty pounds lias been accounted for, and £402 was yet iugIn reply to Christie, Chief Detective Marsack said that he had made inquiries as to Christie’s character, and found him to have a very high reputation. Ho had given the Auckland police all possible assistance tp clear tho matter up. This concluded the case for the prosecution. Christie and Manning were then asked to plead, and both pleaded guilty. His AVorship then committed the accused to the Supreme Court for sentence. THE CHARGE OF RECEIVING. Charles George Frederick Pepper and Herbert Howlott' were charged, on remand, before Mr C. G. Kettle, S.M., with receiving into their possession 100 and ISO sovereigns respectively, knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained.

Mr S. Mays, who appeared for tho prosecution, applied for a further week’s remand, stating that the police had interviewed Manning about the matter,and they (the prosecution) would not object to bail being granted. Messrs J. R. Lundon (for Pepper) and Prcndergast (for Ilowlett) applied for bail, which was granted in two sureties of £IOO in each case.— N.Z. Herald.