TWO PLEAD GUILTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 614, 16 March 1929, Page 1

TWO PLEAD GUILTY

THEFT OF WAHINE’S MAIL

TALE OF RACING BETS Press Association WELLINGTON, To-day. Yesterday afternoon Arthur Henry William Bevan and Thomas Gordon pleaded guilty to the theft of mails from the steamer Wahine during the voyage from Lyttelton to Wellington on February 8. They were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Richard Ryan and George Wilfred Ryan, who pleaded not guilty to similar charges, were committed for trial, bail being allowed. The two Rj'ans were interviewed at the Woodville races. Ilichard Ryan had £29 in bank nctes and his brother £l2 18s 3d. They said this money had been won in bets, but a race book showed a return of only £l3 Is 6d. George Ryan had also tickets worth £ls in his possession. Richard Ryan admitted he had gone to Lyttelton with Bevan, Gordon and his brother, and had also returned on the Wahine with them. He denied, however, having anything at all to do with the robbery. He said he had not called Gordon out of the hold nor had he got any money from him. He had not gone to Sevan’s room and been given money. George Ryan was interviewed ;ind Bevan’s statement was read to him. George Ryan then made a statement along the same lines as his brother ?-, denying any knowledge of robbery. He said it was untrue that they were each given £4O by Gordon, and all the money they had on them had been won at the trots. He had taken £S to the Petone trots and had c ome away with £3O. At the Woodville races he had put two £5 notes on a horse, one being for his brother. A seaman saic. on February 8 about 7 p.m. he saw Richard Ryan sitting on a seat near the hatch with two other men. He passed remarks with one ol them. The next evening about six o'clock h • ags Ln saw Richa Rj u alone on deck, and witness passed n remark about the trots. Evidence ol the locking of the hatch was also given