PILLAGING CARGO

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 299, 21 January 1911, Page 8

PILLAGING CARGO

A BOATSWAIN' SEXTEXCIiI). liy Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night, Mr. Widditwson, S.M., was occupied all day in hearing charges against Joseph Brice, Jolin Cripp (seamen), and George Stewart (boatswain) of the Uiiimtaka, of pillaging cargo at Albany. It was alleged that beer to the vulue of £2 10s hud been stolen. Percy Boss, assistant steward, who said he was paid Is a month and had formerly been iv music hall artist, insurance agent, solicitor's clerk, barrister's clerk, and judge' clerk, deposed that about 10.30 a.m. on the 9th January lie saw Stewart, who had been drinking. He saw the boatswain take a bottle of beer from a case and hand it to the quartermaster, who put it under his jumper. Afterwards he saw the boatswain and two of the crew take a ease up from the hold. Other witnesses gave evidence at great length. It was elicited that altogether 117 bottles were missing. Bruce and Cripps absolutely denied complicity. Air. Hawkins addressed the Bench on behalf of Stewart, who had been 23 years at sea, and was the only man at the wreck of the Maori, near Capetown, who succeeded in piloting a boat to safety. For this he received a gold watch and chain and a medal. Stewart, in his evidence, denied all knowledge of the theft. .Moreover; he had a bottle of whisky in his room untouched, and a bottle of porter. The .Magistrate said the evidence of identity of Bruce and Cripps was inconclusive, and they would be discharged. He ordered Stewart to pay £2 10s, the value of the beer, and 7s costs; and to undergo one month's imprisonment.