SMUGGLING CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1919, Page 5

SMUGGLING CHARGES.

IMPUDENT THEFT OP BLANKETS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, August 11. Four men, J. Connor, master of the lighter Morning Light, D. Bertie, J. Gibson, and J. E. Jackson, watersiders, were charged at the Magistrate's Court with being . found in possession of dutiable goods concealed on the lighter. The goods were military blankets belonging to the Imperial Government, and came from the overseas steamer ArmaghEvidence was given by the quartermaster of the Armagh to the effect that during the night, while lightering operations were being carried on in the Wanganui roadstead, he. saw bales of blankets being dropped from the liner to the lighter. Investigations disclosed six bales of blankets on the lighter covered with a tarpaulin and two bags of blankets in the cabin of the lighter. The inf6rmation against Bertie was dismissed, leaving the other threo cases proceeding. Wanganui, Last Night. At the Magistrate's Court to-day Captain John Connor, master of the lighter Morni;;g ■ Light, David Bertie, Joseph Gibson, and John Marshall, waterside workers, were charged, on the information of the Collector of Customs, with having in their possession dutiable goods, which consisted of 200 blankets, valued at £157. Evidence was called by the Crown Prosecutor to show that on the night of August 2, when the steamer Armagh was loading wool in the Wanganui, the qilartermdster saw several bales dropped over the side by three men, and j other men on the lighter's deck handlod the bnlos.

John Taylor, third officer of the Armngh, said lie marched the, lighter and found the blankets concealed on deck under a tarpaulin. Alfred James, the purser, said the blankets were the property of the Imperial Government, and were Med by the Australian troops which the steamer had conveyed to Sydney. He took over charge of 7000 blankets, which were stored in an alleyway.

Karly in the proceedings the charge against Bertie was dismissed. The other defendants gave* evidence, and denied having anything to dorWJth thft.blankets. His Worship also dismissed the charge against Captain Connor, owing to lack of positive evidence. He said the evidence disclosed that the other two men went on to the Armagh, and they did not give a satisfactory reason for doing so. Jackson's evidence proved contradictory. It was an impudent attempt to appropriate over £l5O worth of blankets-, but his Worship believed the men were not the only ones implicated. Jackson and Gibson were each fined £3O and ffi costs.