FIREMEN RAID HOTEL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 307, 19 March 1928, Page 1

FIREMEN RAID HOTEL

Guests’ Rooms Robbed GAOL FOR THE INTRUDERS ACCORDING to the experience of the police, firemen on ships hound for England generally make an effort to collect marketable souvenirs in the final port a few hours before the ship sails.

Three firemen who followed the honourable practice in Auckland on Saturday evening had an ill-starred venture. At the Police Court to-day, Charles Hart, aged. 2s, and Edward Carstens, aged 43, firemen from the S.S. Matatua, and Joseph Dunn, an unemployed fireman, aged 32, faced a series of charges as the result of a raid they made on the Star Hotel. Hart was charged with stealing clothing and a gold watch valued at £33 10s 6d, the property of Charles Samuel Jiffs. Dunn and Carstens were each charged with stealing suits, the property of Frederick Walter Lister. INTRUDER STONED Ray John Nightingale, licensee of of the Star Hotel, said that he saw

the accused Hart on the fire-escape on Saturday evening. Witness threw a stone and drove the man inside. Investigation showed that he had a suitcase and watch in his possession. Constable R. H. Waterson, who was called to the hotel, said he captured the other two men after a chase. They both had a suit hidden under their jackets. Chief-Detective Hammond then made remarks concerning the conduct of firemen in final ports. “They make a thieving dash at the final port,” he said, “and trust to luck to get away.” The accused were each sentenced to three months imprisonment. Robert John Lloyd, aged 24, a fireman who was found drunk under a bed in the hotel, was fined £lO.