BILLAGED CARGO.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 150, 28 June 1927, Page 8

BILLAGED CARGO.

WftpRSIDERS FOR SENTENCE

BOTCH GET PROBATION,

ONB YEAR'S LOSS TOTALS £3949*

• :vHaving pleaded guilty to fifteen ,£n"argea of stealing goods worth £5 6/S August 17, 1926, and June 9, Robert William Knight (25), a waterside worker, appeared for sentence gp the Police Court this morning. John Thurlqw (25), another water|sider, who admitted having stolen, August 17, 1926, and June 6, goods worth £11 11/11, was also for sentence. Both men, represented by Mr. J. J. Sullivan, had been in custody a week.

Chief Detective Cummings said that, in one case, where each accused stole' ,■4O yards of silk, which was kept in a 'special locker, the theflr was a most impudent one. During the past twelve months five shipping companies had lost through pillaging on the wharves at Auckland, goods worth £3949 14/4. The Union Company was the heaviest loser, with £1767, the New Zealand Shipping Company came next, with £1014. Mr. Sullivan objected to Mr. Cumznings imparting this information. 'It is not suggested that these men got all the stuff, but they got some of it and have admitted doing so," said the Chief Detective. Neither of the accused had been in trouble before. They were both married men. "They have both been in Mt. Eden gaol now for a week and have got a taste of gaol," said Mr. Sullivan. It was an exceptional case, as the accused •were young married men. Counsel asked the magistrate to give consideration to the Probation Officer's recommendation that accused be placed on probation. Just because they happened to be waterside workers, he said, it was no reason why they should not be dealt with the same as other persons who pleaded guilty to theft.

"It is fortunate that the probation officer's report in these cases is a favourable one," said the magistrate, who then admitted both Knight and Thurlow to probation ior two years. Restitution was ordered.