BIG HAUL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10286, 22 May 1919, Page 2

BIG HAUL

ALLEGED THEFT SIX MEN, A LAUNCH, AND SHIP’S STORES. Yesterday six men, named respectively John Perry, Herbert Philip Pettit, Stephen Fisher, Ernest Adams, Ernest Beech, and Percy Albert Olding, stood before Mr I. Salek and Captain W. H. Hennah, J.P.’s, to answer a charge of stealing ship’s stores valued at £79 4s, the property of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Shipping Company. Acting Sub-Inspector Emerson prosecuted and Mr G. W. Hellish appeared for Fisher. The other defendants were not represented by counsel. Acting Sub-Inspeotor Emerson in opening the case, said that Perry was employed as butcher on the troopship Raranga, Pettit was assistant butcher, Adams assistant steward", and Olding was chief steward. Beech was a returned soldier who came back to Now Zealand by the Raranga, and on the voyage out had helped the butcher. Fisher was a resident of Wellington. The Raranga was lying at the Railway wharf on the morning of May 17th, and in consequence of certain information received by the police the ship was watched by Constables Fleming and Phillips. Between 4 and 5 o’clock on Saturday morning, May 17th, the constables saw sufficient to lead them to arrest the accused on charges of stealing ship’s stores from the Raranga. Beech and Fisher had no right, to be on the vessel, ns they were not mom. ,bers of the crew, and must have known that they were committing a breach of the War Regulations, if the court committed the defendants for trial the witnesses, wiho would give evidence, would not be available in the Supreme Court, when the case came on, therefore as much evidence as possible would be submitted. SCREENED LIGHTS.

John Wilson, captain of the Barnngn, said that a constable called him about' 6 o’clock qj.4 Saturday morning, and on going along the bridge deck, ha saw four men standing in the forward portion of the main deck aft. He recognised Olding (chief steward), I Adams (assistant steward), and Pettit (assistant butcher) on the ship. The fourth man—a soldier —he did not know, and he had no right on the ship. Close to the men was a quantity of ship’s stores, some of which was in sacks and some uncovered. The stores consisted , of ten hams weighing about 1301 b, four., sides of' bacon, 1 weighing 2001 b; six cheeses weighing S36lb, 721 b of butter, a case of condensed milk containing 48 tins, a case containing 12 frozen ducks, a case containing 12 frozen fowls, three cases of bloaters each containing 48 bioaters, and three cases of kippers each containing 48 kippers. The articles should have .been in the storerooms, and no one had a right to bring them on to the deck. A ; block and whip, was. rigged just above the ship’s rail, and in, a convenient position for lowering anything over the side of the vessel. There was a launch lying against the Lyttelton ferry steamer wharf about SO yards away. After the stores had been weighed and ' tallied they l were put; back into the storeroom. A door at the after end of the bridge space had been broken open. It was fastened by a Yale padlock. The chief steward and Perry each had a key to the frozen storeroom. .One of the lights at the storeroom had been screened by an old hat being placed over it and the other by a lifebelt. By these means the light was prevented from shining on the place where the stores were. To Mr Hellish. It was strange to see a launch alongside the wharf, but he could not connect it with the theft of the stores. Had there been no theft ho would not have given a second thought to the launch. Olding: Did you not aak for stores to bo removed from No. 2 storeroom? —Tihey wore troops’ stores, and I ordered them to bo removed to the ship’s stores.

Was there any reason why these stores should not be removed ?—Not at 4 o’clock in the morning. Had not potatoes been moved at 4 o’clock in the morning?—Yea, flour and potatoes. The potatoes were not in good order, and they wore removed early, 'as the men were coming to load frozen moat.

In answer to Sub-Inspector Emerson, the witness said the stores on the deck were 10 feet away from the storeroom from which they had been taken, and he knew of. no storeroom in the vicinity; The inhalation chamber was only used for dry stores, which were procured daily from ashore.

Henry Heckle, storekeeper on the Raranga, said ho found the door of the frozen storeroom unlocked, and ho procured a new lock and placed it on the door. A SHORT SLEEP.

Frank Penny, chief baker on the ship, abated that he occupied the same cabin as Perry. Witness went to bed at 8 o’clock on Friday night, and was awakened at 11 o’clock by Beech, who came in. Beech took his puttees off, and lay down on the settee. Half an hour later, the butcher (Perry) camp in, but went out again. He returned with another man, whom witness did not ' recognise in court, and the stranger said something about having sold a launch for £250, and his wife wanted to know what ho had done with the money. Tho stranger got Into the hutchor’o bunk, and tho butcher went to sleep on a chair. Before doing so, he remarked they had only four hours. At 4 o’clock in the morning tho soldier said good morning, and the three men loft the cabin. William James Constable, assistant steward, deposed to being on duty from 10.30 o’clock on the night of May I6th till 8.30 o’clock the following morning. Perry asked to bo called at 3.45 o’clock, and on going to his cabin he found him sleeping in a chair. Beech was on a settee, and a civilian in Perry’s bunk. Bator Perry came to tho pantry for coffee, as did Adams and Olding. Just after 4 o'clock Constable Connor oamo on board, and witness took him to the oatphoin’e cabin.

Samuel Downes, quartermeator, stated that he saw Perry and a civilian, who wag wearing a brown suit and a feH hat, go ashore. Previously Perry had asked witness why he was looking round the ship instead of remaining at tho gangway. It was tho first time he had seen the butcher up so early, _ but he had seen the stewards working at 4 o'clock ia the

morning. Adams was on the main deck, with his sleeves rolled up. AN ADMISSION. Constable M. J. Connor stated that he wont on board the Raranga with Constable Fleming at 5 o’clock on Saturday morning, and Olding was discovered standing near a quantity of stores which were on the deck. Constable Fleming said: “What’s this?” and Olding replied, “It’s a funny position for mo to bo found in. My position on the ship is at stake. Tho butcher and I want to make a few bob out of it. Let mo put them back. I have been two years on this ship, and am a married man with a family.” Shortly afterwards Beech* came along a gangway, and, upon Constable Fleming asking him what he knew about it (mean,ing the stores), the accused replied: “I missed my boat to Lyttelton last night. I don’t know much about it, but was asked by Perry to give a hand.” Pettit and Adams, when questioned, made no reply. The block and whip was attached to a guy. The launch was 80ft away. It was very unusual to see a launch alongside the ferry wharf, and it was a broach of the Harbour Board regulations to leave one there. Constable William_ Phillips said he and Constable Fleming had an unobstructed view of the port side of tho Raranga. The ship was well lighted, and ho could recognise person* on board. He saw Perry, Fisher, and Boeoh in the butcher’s shop where Adams, Olding and Pettit joined them. They bad something to oat and drink, and the men then want aft. At 4.40 o’clock he saw Perry carry a rope and block along the deck, and five minutes later Adams came out of the butcher’s shop with a large meat chopper in his hand. A noise was heard as of two irons being smacked together, then all was quiet for a while. Perry and Fisher came on to the ferry wharf, and the former looked up and down, ns if to see if all was dear. Perry and Fisher were detained and taken it; charge by Constable Cleverly. Witness then joined Constable Fleming on the Raranga, and he heard Olding say to witness; “This is hard luck aftqjr being for two years on board. Who blow tho gaff on us?” . “WHAT IS YOUR CJAME?” Constable Fleming said that when he accosted Perry, the latter said, in answer to an inquiry: “I am a butcher on the Ruranga, and am just taking a walk, os it is a fine 'morning.” On asking Fisher what he was doing there, he replied: “Ohl I have a launch down hero at the ferry wharf. Would you like to come and see it? lam a fisherman. and am down hero early to get bait.” Olding, who was standing near tho rail of the ship, did not see witness approach. Ho ’ placed his hand on Olding’s shoulder, and said: “What is your game?” The Accused appeared confused, and replied: “This is a funny position .for me to be placed in. I have been on tho ship for two years, and I am a married man with a family. These stores aro only surplus stores, and the butcher and myself are trying to make a few bob out of them. Thestores were going over tho side, but I do not know the man’s name who was to take them away. Let me put them back.”

, The accused pleaded not guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed each defendant in a sum of £IOO and two sureties of £3O each.