ALLEGED WHARF THEFTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 194, 16 August 1911, Page 5

ALLEGED WHARF THEFTS.

FIFTEEN CHARGES. FOURTEEN AGAINST EHRMAN. SOME REMARKABLE EVIDENCE. There was a full court this morning when the charges of theft from the wharf sheds came on for hearing. The first case called was that against Joseph Ehrman and Alfred E. Hadden, in which CHiefDetective Marsack prosecuted, and Mr. Singer appeared for Ehrman and Mr. Hall Skelton for Hadden. Joseph Ehrman, alias Herman, is charged jointly with Alfred E. Hadden that on or about 3rd July, 1911, they stole from Queen-street wharf goods valued at £26 6/6, the property of Hallenstein Bros. Ehrman and Arthur Glover are charged that on or about 30th March they stole from the wharf goods valued at £145, the property of Milne and Choyce. Ehrman and John Alexr. Mclntyre were charged that on or about Ist November, 1910, they stole from the Auckland wharf a case of Old Judge tobacco, valued at £37, the property of Winstone, Ltd. Arthur Glover is charged that on or about 25th April, 1911, he forged a telegram purporting to be signed by A. Tanfield, authorising the Union Company, Greymouth, to deliver certain goods, to wit, five cases of draper}-. Ehrman is further charged that on or about Ist July, 1911, he stole from the Railway wharf, Auckland, two cases of ribbons and drapery, value £63, the property of J. P. Hooton; that on or about Bth June he stole from the Auckland wharf two cases of lamp-burners, value £l3, the property of P. Hayman and Co.; on or about 4th April, 1911, he stole from the Railway wharf, Auckland, a case containing boots and shoes, value £26 8/, the property of Johnston Bros.; that on or about 25th June he stole from the Auckland wharf a case of drapery, value £33 9/3, the property of Archibald Clark and Co., Ltd.; on or about Ist July, 1911, he stole from the Auckland wharf one case of drapery, the property of ; on or about 22nd May, 1911. he stole from the Hobsonstreet wharf a case of umbrellas, sticks, and fit-ups. value £l2 3/, the property of J. A. Bergquist; on or about 16th April. 1911, be stole from the Auckland wharf a case containing clothing, value £47 6/2. the property of Maoky. Logan and Caldwell; that on or about 11th May. 1911, he stole from the Auckland wharf v. case of clocks, value £lO, the property of Briscoe and Co.. Ltd.; that on or about 4th April. 1911, he stole from the Auckland wharf a case containing women's and children's slippers, value £2O, the property of R. Walton; tha* on or about Ist July. 1911, he stole frocthe Auckland wharf a case of drapery, value £2O 12/9. the property of Alfred Gordon Somerville: }hat at Te Kuiti on 19th July, 1911, he escaped from lawful custody. THE CASE OUTLINED.

In opening, Detective Marsack said that the case against Ehrman and Hadden was one of a number which would be broufrht against Ehrman, in some cases in conjunction with other people, in some cases by himself. The circumstances of the present case were that on 27 th June Hallenstein and Co., of Dunedin, packed a case of goods, and forwarded it to their agents in Auckland by the s.s. Mokoia, which arrived in Auckland on 2nd July, and discharged on following days. The case was discharged into the F shed, and was seen tliere. The case was marked "C.F.." and a diamond, with a number. On July 3rd the accused Hadden approached several persons, and suggested to them that they should remove this case from the store. A number refused, but a carter named Nicholson took the goods on Hadden's instructions to the railway platform, where Hadden was joined by Ehrman. The marks on the case were altered either by Hadden or Ehrman by smearing over the original mark and substituting a mark of his own. "I.E. over H." The case was sent to Stratford, where it was traced, and found in Ehrman's possession. It had been opened, and the goods placed on sale, but the greater part of the goods had been recovered and identified. TItE COURSE OF THE GOODS. Alfred Jno. Smith, storeman for Hallenstein Bros., Dunedin, said that on June 26 last he packed a case for the firm in Auckland. The case was shipped by the Mokoia on 27th June, It was branded C.F. and a diamond, and the measurements were 2ft. sin., Ift. 10in., and 3ft. Sin. In Auckland that morning he had identified the case he had dispatched and some of the goods he packed in the case.

To Mr. Singer: He cheeked the goods off before they were packed, and relied on the checking list and seeing the goods in Auckland to refresh his memory as to what goods were packed. The C.F. represented Clothing Factory, and Auckland was stencilled below it. Those marks were still on the case. To Mr. Hall Skelton: The box would be fairly heavy, probably ljcwt. to 2 cwt. It was about a fortnight after he packed the box that he heard it was missing.

Herbert Halstead, clerk, employed by the U.S.S. Co., Auckland, stated that the Mokoia arrived on 2nd July, and discharged on the 3rd into the F and G sheds. A case marked C.F. couJd not be found, and was not delivered to Hallenstein Bros. Hadden was occasionally employed by the Union Co. as tally clerk, but had not been so for the past nine months. On 3rd July, therefore, Hadden had no authority to handle any of the Mokoia's cargo.

To Mr. Singer: H e took a shipping invoice of the ease from a file in the office. The mark " Repk." meant that the case, had originally come from England, and had been "repacked" or used for other goods. THE CUSTOM OF THE SHED. To Mr. Skelton: The first responsible party who should take charge of the case on its arrival was the consignee The case was put in the shed on the wharf, and the shipping company endeavoured to deliver it to the consignee. Before the case could come out of the shed in ordinary circumstances the owner would claim it, and give a receipt to the tally clerk, being given a ticket that would clear the case at the head of the wharf. The carter would have this ticket and a permit to pass the delivery clerk. If the carter was working from a receiving agent he got two tickets (one from the delivery clerk), but if not he got only one ticket. It would be improper for the carter to take away, the case unless he had those tickets or tally notes. Witness could not say if the carter had to deliver any ticket to the fixm with the goods when he delivered the goods. HADDEN COMES IN. John H. Humphries, casual tally clerk for the Union Company and the Huddart, Parker Company, said on July 2 he was employed tallying cargo from the s.s. Mokoia with the E and D Bheds. He

saw the accused Hadden in the F shed. Accused went to witnt-ss, and asked him to recommend him to Mr. Speckman to deliver the South boat, as Mr. Henry was unable to come down. Afterwards he returned, about 3 p.m., and Baid, "You see that case over there," pointing to one marked SSE over W in a circle, numbered 734. Witness said, "Yes." He said, "What's wrong with getting it away. It can easily be done, and you'll stand in shares." Witness refused, and Hadden called him a fool, again saying it could be done quite easily. Witness noticed another case close to the one pointed out. It was marked CF in a diamond, and witness knew it was Hallenstein's brand. Afterwards saw Hadden about a-quarter past one on sth July outside the Britomart Hotel. Witness then had some knowledge that a case had been stolen from the wharf. Hadden said he heard the detectives were after him, and witness advised him to make a clean breast of it all. and he replied that he didn't take anything. When asked what he said in the shed on thu Monday, he replied he didn't take anything, but someone wanted him to take something, but got frightened because witness would not go in with them. He added that they were going to take a couple of cases. While they were talking Arthur Glover and Ehrman came up. They spoke some words excitedly, and Hadden asked Glover for some money. Glover reminded Hadden to be on the station at ten past two, as the train left at that time. ABOUT A TELEGRAM. To Mr. Skelton: When Hadden saw witness in the shed he had had a drink or two, but was quite sensible. Witness did not know who took the case and put it on the cart. Was quite certain he saw no one handle the case. About the time Hadden spoke to him he saw several of Carr and Haslam's men there. He saw Mclntyre, Nicholson, Braund (Harbour Board cadet), and a tally clerk called Cronin. Witness was working in the F shed all that day. Before the case could go out a tally clerk would have to give a ticket. The only ones he saw in the shed that day were Percival and Cronin. "Did you not send a wire to bring those parties together at the Britomart Hotel?" said Mr. Skelton.—"No." "Do you swear that?"—"l signed the telegram." What did you do that for?— I was asked to sign it. Who asked you to sign it?— Mr. Halstead. What time were you to meet that evening?— Half-past eight. What was the meeting for?—l can't say. WHO SAW THE CASE GO?

Continuing, witness said he didn't sign all the tally notes on the afternoon of 3rd July. He was tallying between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Mclntyre was the receiver. The carter who took the case should have got a note from the receiver. Saw Nicholson there, but didn't see anyone touch the case. He had no conversation at all with anyone between 2 and 3 o'clock that afternoon about the case. Witness had some years ago been convicted twice of theft from a railway carriage, and been imprisoned.

THE MATTER REPORTED. To Mr. Singer: On Monday afternoon he had his suspicions aroused, and they were confirmed on Tuesday by something the Harbour Board cadet (Braund) said about Hadden taking two cases. After the meeting with Hadden on Wednesday (at the hotel) witness had an appointment on the Wednesday night at half-past 8. Then Hadden made an appointment to meet witness again on the Thursday morning at the train. He didn't turn up, and that was why witness sent the wire. It was not customary for witness to receive suggestions such as made by Hadden. though he had twice previously been approached. He didn't report them. Once it was by Hadden, and witness advised him to put such ideas out of his head. On this occasion witness reported the matter on the Tuesday morning. AN OFFER OF £SO. Witness said he did not see Hadden on the Tuesday, but saw him at the Britomart Hotel on the Wednesday, when looking for him. Hadden said that tho detectives had offered him £SO to say what he knew, and that he had said he didn't take any case, and he would not take £IOOO and split on anybody if he knew. Hadden told witness he knew who took the cases, but he woudn't split on anyone. "ITS TOM SMITH." After a few words Hadden said, "Do you want to know who took the cases, and he is taking cases from all the wharves, it's Tom Smith." Tom Smith was a tally clerk employed casually on the wharves, but he had not been employed by witness's company for the last nine months. Hadden arranged to meet witness again that (Wednesday) night, but neither of them turned up. Witness had seen Ehrman before the Wednesday afternoon, but had never spoken to him. Had often seen and spoken to Glover. The telegram was brought to witness on Hobson-street wharf by Halstead, all ready written out, and witness signed it. Witness did not go to see Tom Smith, and didn't ask him anything about the matteT.

THE CASE OF GOODS SHIFTED. Leonard Braund, assistant storekeeper to Auckland Harbour Board, said he -was mostly employed in the F shed. On 3rd July (Monday) he saw Hadden in the shed in the afternoon. He overheard a conversation between Hadden and a Mr. Lang. Lang was coming up the shed with a truck, and Hadden called him, and said, "Pack this casi up." Hadden said to witness that the case had been over-carried by the Wimmera. The mark on the case was C.F. and a diamond. Lang said it was not his mark, and Hadden replied that he need not take it unless he liked. With that, Hadden gave a hand to put the case on the truck, and Lang wheeled the case towards his lorry. Witness was called away, and didn't see the case put on the lorry. He heard Hadden tell Lang to pull out and wait for Cassin, the Express Co's. receiver. To Mr. Skelton: Did not know of his own actual knowledge that Hadden had been drinking very heavily the last few months. At the time Hadden asked Lang to pick up the case Humphries was in a shed a little further up, hut he did not come towards them, and witness could not say that Humphries saw the case shifted. STILL IN THE SHED. Jam-is Lang, driver for the Express Company, said that on the afternoon of Monday, 3rd July, he drove his lorry . to the F shed. Hadden met him, and ! said. "There are a couple of cases here ! for Gollan and Co. They're out of the Wimmera." He added. "It's all right, 1 fixed them up with Joe," meaning Joe ! Cassen. He pointed to one, which was i marked CF and a diamond, and witness ; remarked that that wasn't Gollan 8 mark. I Hadden-said it was all right, and gave witness a hand to put it on the hand truck. Witness was called away at the time, and didn't put the case" on the lorrv. j To Mr. Skelton: Didn't notice that 'Hadden, was under the influence of 3

liquor. Knew that before ha touched a, ease in the shed he needed a tally note and he had none. He didst have a receiver's note»either, to get past the receiver, but Hadden said he had fixed it «f> witt Joe Cassen, witness' boss. Saw Hadden later in the afternoon. Could not remember speaking to Nicholson about the case. He had never told anyone that he had dropped the case where he did because he thought something was wrong. " (Proceeding.)