PILLAGING OF GOODS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1920, Page 6

PILLAGING OF GOODS.

SHIP'S HEAVY LOSSES. SEAMAN SENTENCED FOR THEFT. The hearing of a charge of theft against a seafaring man at the New Plymouth Court yesterday, disclosed that extensive pillaging is being carried out on overseas boats, resulting in substantiaj losses. The case under review concerned k seaman named Wm. Moody, of the liner Port Pirie, now berthed at New Plymouth. He was charged with the theft of 561bs of grey lead, valued at £7, and pleaded guilty. Tlie facts, as outlined by Sub-Inspec-tor Hutton, were that on Wednesday, about 1.30 p.m., the chief officer of the ship saw Moody leave the ship, and proceed across the wharf carrying something under a cover. He called out to Moody, but he dodged behind some railway trucks. Shortly afterwards a splash was heard, apparently something having been dropped into the sea. A diver wag employed, his* services costing £G, and he recovered a piece of lead s<>lbs in weight, which was valued at 2s Gd per lb. Information had been received that the accused had been going about town the previous day offering the lead for sale, though he did not have it with him. He had also sought orders for blouses, which, lie said, he had on the ship, and if lie got orders could deliver them. On the voyage out the vessel lost over £3OOO worth of goods. At Durban three of the crew were arrested, including Moody, but by a streak of iuck the latter got off on that occasion. There was evidently a prevalence of systematic theft. It seemed that some persons had been seeking orders for paint. Moody had no explanation to offer. His Worship (Mr. T. A. B. Bailey) said tjiere was far too much pillaging going on. Accused would be convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labor.