STOLEN COFFEE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 788, 8 October 1929, Page 1

STOLEN COFFEE

TWO DIFFERENT STORIES TOLD FINE FOR RECEIVING Following the refusal of Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., to believe his story, James Sadler, a barber, aged 47, was fined £5 at the Police Court this morning on a charge of receiving. Sadler was charged with stealing two tins of coffee, valued at 2Ss and belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company. The charge of receiving was an alternative count. Mr. Cocker entered a plea of not guilty. William Palmer, gate-keeper at the Central Wharf, said that he had accosted accused with a companion as they were leaving the wharf with a parcel each on Saturday afternoon. Accused had explained that the parcels contained scraps which he was taking to the seamen's mission. After discovering that the parcels contained two sealed tins of coffee, witness had banded both men over to the police. That accused's companion was the second steward on the Piako and was in charge of the issuing of stores was the evidence of William Flint, chief steward on the Piako. Witness identified the cofree as the ship's proI perty. According to Constable Patterson he had let the other man go as Sadler's story exonerated him. The constable pioduced a statement in which accused described himself as a hairdresser, who went round to the ships ■working at his trade. A fireman had asked him to take the tins to the seamen's mission and he had asked the steward to help him carry them to the street. Witness said that Sadler had been given an opportunity to identify ibe fireman and failed to do so, even though he saw the whole crew. ASKED TO GIVE A HAND 2*r. Cocker submitted that there was ho evidence of what had happened Prior to the detention at the gate. Accused's story was that he had been >»ked by the steward to give a hand with the parcels. When it was apparent that they would be accosted the steward had asked accused to say that •he parcels had been given him by a fireman. Accused had done shield the steward and, for the same reason, had made a false statement to the police. The case was, stood down at the suggestion of the magistrate so that hidd, the assistant steward, might be called as a witness. John Kidd said •hat the barber had asked him to carry the parcel. Witness occasionally eft the store-room open and it was finite possible for someone to get in uuu take the coffee. Sadler stuck to his story that the Parcel had been given him to carry y the steward. The steward, who *as slightly under the influence of ••fiuor, had offered him a drink aud a .'finite. Accused said that he had y“* story about the fireman in hh r to save the steward. "I wish I a u thought of saving myself first,” e added, “it was a great shock to

Following Sadler's conviction on the said that the man had 27 f fi T ip us convictions. Only one was ‘°r dishonesty. Bin e .L aUlt Tine was fixed at a fjonth’s imprisonment and accused as given a week in which to find •he money. magistrate as Sadler turned to ‘ ,lY * the dock. ~ „