SENSATION ON THE MAORI.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 18 October 1917, Page 4

SENSATION ON THE MAORI.

ROBBERIES FROM PASSENGERS,

JEWELLERY THROWN OVERBOARD.

There was a sensational occurrence on the steamer Maori early yesterday morning, while the vessel was en routs from Wellington Lyttclton. Some time after midnight, a young man, who was not a member of the ship's company, was found in the engine-room and requested to leave. According to the Christchurch '' Sun'' he had to be almost literally chased away. Incidentally, he nearly became entangled in some of the machinery. A Lttle later the same man was seen on deck. When two of the passengers —Messrs Sanderson and T. Brown (the latter a returned soldier) —noticed him throwing jewellery overboard, they remembered stories of ferry-boat robberies, and recalled the fact that between the hours of 1 and 3 a.m. it is not particularly difficult for a man to go in and out of, some of the cabins. So they decided, upon action. Brown took up a strategic; position behind the curtain on the doorway of one of the cabins, when the prowler got near enough tripped him up in the curtain. Then began a violent struggle. The chief offi-. cer, a couple of sailors, the steamer's ( nightwatchman, and four or live sailors reached the scene of strife in a hurry,, and piled themselves on the lone-hand-ed straggler against odds. After ai sharp contest, they got the man pinned dow. Handcuffed and ironed, he was, then placed in the, stewards' lavatory for safe keeping.' However, the struggle on deck had not taken all the fight out of Mm. Ironed as he was, he managed to smanli everything breakable in his place of confinement, including the glass-pancd door, and to wrench off the brass fittings in the place. When the Maori got inside Godley Head Captain Manning signalled for the police. Nearing the wharf, the vessel was hovc-to, with an anchor down, a short distance v'rom the wharf, to await the arrival of the police officers. Senior-Sergeant Jackson and Constable D. Lloyd went off to the vessel, and after another struggle they got the man ashore and up to the Lyttelton Police Station. He was steerage passenger, but he refused to, give his name or to answer any questions. However, after looking up some police records and photographs, Detective Quartermain identified him as Victor Tanning Fraser. He is a man of: about oft lOin in weight, strongly built, and apparently between 27 and 30 years of age. Some jewellery and' other identified articles, said to belong' to seven or eight different people, were 5 found in his possession. In consequence of the developments, a search was made in the engine-room of the; Maori, and somo more jewellery was: found "hidden there. So far as can be: gathered, about six saloon cabins and' an equal number of steerage cabins: had been visited surreptitiously. • |

Later in the morning, Fraser, who. was in a very dishevelled state, appeared before Captain Hatchwell, J.P., in the Police Court at Lyttelton. He' was charged with the theft of a gold* bangle, a gold chain and charm, and a gold brooch, of a total valuo of £9, the property of Mary Hume. Other charges probably will be preferred against him.;