CONSIGNED TO THE DEEP.

Shannon News, 24 March 1925, Page 4

CONSIGNED TO THE DEEP.

CROCKERY GOES OVERBOARD. « •It would appear that more went on J aboard the good ship Aorangi dur- J ing her voyage from England than one would dream of. An amazing ' story was told in the Auckland Police Court recently about two stewards who wiled away the time by flinging quantities of ship's cutlery, crockery, and general gear out of the port-holes with such reckless abandon that, had the journey lasted a few months' little would have been left. George Scott (29) was charged with the theft of a dustpan and broom (7/-), a settee cushion (20/). a glass tumbler (7d), and a quantity iof cutlery, while Joseph Olivier was charged that, on the high seas, he did damage a wooden drawer, valued at 30/-, and steal a cushion, | vaiued at 20/-. All the goods were the property of the Union Steamship Company. Both accused pleaded not guilty, Mr J. W. Poynton, S4M., and a justice presided, and Chief Detective Cunimings prosecuted. New Dishes in Every Port. Jane Kennedy, a third-class passenger, stated that she had seen Scott take a glass and throw it out a porthole In the third class dining room. She had also seen him throw plates into the sea* in the same manner. She remarked about it to the accused, who told witness that it was all right, because "they got a new crate of dishes in every port." A. number of witnesses were then called. One woman stated that she saw Scott lling a broom and a dustpan out the port-hole, while, on other occasions she had seen plates consigned to the deep. Scott told this witness that the place was a pig-hole, and received the reply that if he swept it out properly, it wouldn't be. A third-class waiter testified to .observing the accused get rid of ship's gear per medium of the port-hole, while another swore to seeing him put silverware in his pocket. D. N. Miller, steward of the Aorangi, said that on the voyage, he began to miss cutlery and silver. He had trouble with Scott, who was later disrated. Since Scott and Olivier had been removed to the thirdclass, there had been practically no losses. Olivier Uses a Spade. Regarding the charges against Olivier, Alexander Munroe, secondclass steward, said that accused asked him for keys for his drawer. Witness told him that he did not have any. Later, he heard a noise, and next morning found the drawer referred to smashed. Robert Ashby, Master_at_Arms, stated that accused had been interviewed regarding the drawer, and had admitted taking a spade to lever it open. In the operations, the drawer came- apart. Detective McHugh gave evidence to arresting both accused. Scott denied the charges, but Olivier admitted forcing the drawer with a shovel. "These fellows are guilty of sabotage," said the magistrate. "They take a delight in- damaging other people's property, and they think it funny. They are really fanatics. Their mischief really comes back on the heads of the workers."

"It's a very bad case. Olivier is sentenced to one month's imprisonment and ordered to pay costs. Scott will receive three months' on the first two charges, the sentences to be cumulative. On the others he is convicted and' discharged.