PILLAGERS SENT TO GAOL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1923, Page 2

PILLAGERS SENT TO GAOL.

CIIItr.STCHI'IiCH. April Cb. Pillaging < f cargo iron) oversea vessels by Jilt'll ihtri-s of tile crews lies been very prevalent recently, a nil practically every steamer that has visited Lyttelton for the past few Meeks has suffered. A nnmlicr of arrests have Keen made, and the oll'endcrs punished. To-day two seamen, Thomas ]• ield and Alfred Hayward, appealed Lctore tw > .Justices of the Peace, charged with having stolen ladies stockings valued at £ t at Wellington. and Hayward with having received six pairs of | sl<k 1 i\intr'. valued at Cl. from Field, knowing til** same to have beau stolen. Field pleaded guilty. Hayward admitted having received the steekings. hut stated he did not know they were stolen.

Sergeant Al-llolm stated both men held res;i msible positions on the Runtime. Field was donkeymaii and Hat ward ston-man. They were not ordinary firemen, and should have known better. Field was seen leaving the ship by a Customs officer with a pillow which appeared to contain some washing. When accosted by the officer, lie refused to state where he got the stockings contained in the pillow. Later. when seen by witness, be intonued him that ho intended visiting hotels, and selling the stockings at a shilling a pair, in order to have a few beers. In view of the prevalence of pillaging lately, the presiding justices decided not- to deal with the matter lightly, Field was sentenced to three months ftr.tj Har'.vprj tq two WPlMlts,