SEAMAN IN TROUBLE

Southland Times, Issue 20080, 18 January 1927, Page 6

SEAMAN IN TROUBLE

THEFTS ALLEGED. FURTHER GRAVE CHARGES. (Per United Pre® Association.) Auckland, January 17. Altmar Leif Andersen, aged 38, a Norwegian, and second mate of Zane Grey’s schooner, Fisherman, was charged in the Police Court on the following counts: Theft of £75 in English money and 25 dollars in American currency, rape, attempted rape and aggravated assault on a female. Accused pleaded guilty to the theft of the money and not guilty to the other charges. The master of the schooner gave evidence that he left money in the chartroom on December 31 and it was missing on the following day. Subsequently accused admitted stealing it. The Harbour Board gatekeeper said that when accused went ashore on the evening of December 31, he pulled two rolls of pound notes from a pocket, adding that he was a movie man and was going to have a good time.

A young married woman said accused spoke to her in the city on New Year’s Evfe and they walked to Albert Park where accused caught her and thumped her several times on the head. He tore her clothing from her and in the struggle a tooth was broken while she received severe injuries to an eye.

Evidence was given that accused had admitted that the blood-stained handkerchief with the initial A in one corner, found in Albert Park next morning, was his.

When arrested accused said he could not remember what happened on New Year’s Eve as he was very drunk.