ROBBERY ON THE HIGH SEA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10024, 21 April 1910, Page 5

ROBBERY ON THE HIGH SEA.

SENSATION ON THE STEAMER MOERAKI. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 20. Miss Ethel wiles, daughter of Mr A. H. Mile", manager at Wellington for Messrs Murray. Roberts and Co., was the victim of a daring robbery committed on the high seas on April 9 th. Miss Miles left by the Moeraki on April Bth for Sydney en route for Earope, and on the following day a suite case was stolen from her cabin. It contained jewellery, silverware ?nd money to the total value of about £l2O. Misa Miles reported the matter to the captain, but a thorough search of the vessel failed to locate the missing property. When the Moeraki arrived at Sydney tha police were crammicated with, but they. too,, wer- unable'to find either stolen goods or culprit. Whan the steamer reached the Heads to-day on her return to Wellington, the police were signalled for. and Detectives Andrews and Lewis went aboard. While the Moeraki lay in the stream they marie a thorough search, but without success. The vessel then came alongside the wharf, and, not being satisfied with their investigations, the detectives decided on another search. Instructions were given that no member of the crew was to go ashore in the meantime, and for about two huurs both the police officers delved into practically every nook and corner of the vessel, including the stokehole. This time they were rewarded, for their efforts, and in the forecastle *they unearthed their qaarry in the shape of a small box of the missing jewellery tied up in the leg of a pair of underpants belonging to Joseph Walker, a trimmer. A search of the man's box revealed more of the missing jewellery, and shortly afterwards the greater part of the stolen goods was. recovered. Walker was arrested, and will be charged at the Magistrate's Court tomorrow morning with the theft of the jewellery, etc., on the high seas. He is a native of Victoria, twenty- ' four years of age.