WINE CARGO BROACHED

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1921, Page 1

WINE CARGO BROACHED

V MONTH’S IMPRISONMENT

FOR A WATERSIDE WORKER

WELLINGTON, Jan 15

A waterside worker named John Asher, for whom Mr H ,F. O’Leary appeared. was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday with stealing a bottle of wine valued at 5s the property of the Union S.S. Company. 'l’lie evidence for the prosecution was that, on December 10th the s.s. Waipori was discharging cargo, and the accused, with others, was working in No •> hold. Frederick C. Burgess, claims clerk in the employ of the Union S.S. Co., was standing by the hatch, and on looking down the hold on the port side lie saw accused hiding something behind a sack of manure, which was on Ihe port side. The wine cargo was oil the starboard side. Burgess reported the matter to Detective Trieklehank and on an inspection being made, a bottle of wine was found at the spot where Asher was seen hiding something. In his evidence, Asher admitted working the wine cargo, hut denied hiding the bottle of wine, or of drinking wine in the hold.

Two other watersiders working in the hold gave evidence, and denied that the wine cargo had keen hreached. There were eight men working in the hold, and there was a sailor on watch. The wine had keen broached, but it was contended that the broaching had been done at some other port. When the hold was searched several bottles were found; some were* full and others empty.

Joint's Doyle, city inspector, gave Asher a very good elm rafter. He stated that Asher went to the war and had Served over four years and had been wounded.

Tile Magistrate, (Mr F. K. Hunt) said lie was sorry for Asher, because there was the direct evidence of a man who was there to look out for such offences. If it had not been that Asher had borne a. good character he would have sent him to prison for three months, hut, in the circumstances, lie would he sentenced to a month’s imprisonment.