GUNBOAT SMITH'S HOUSE

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 20, 24 January 1929, Page 9

GUNBOAT SMITH'S HOUSE

STANLEY STREET "DUMP."

FOR OUT-OF-WORK SAILORS.

TWO SEAFARERS ARRESTED

Arrested yesterday by detectives in an old house in Stanley Street, which the police described as "a dump for out-of-work sailors," James McNally (29), a fireman, and Patrick Byrne (34), a seaman, both appeared at the Police Court this morning on charges deeming them to be idle and disorderly persons with insufficient lawful means of support.

Mr. W. W. King represented the accused, who denied the charges. Eviderfce was given by Acting-Detec-tives Mills and Davis that they had No. 54, Stanley Street, an unoccupied house, under observation for some time. Yesterday afternoon while watching the place they saw both accused and two other men enter the house. The house was a "tumbled-down old shack" and was not occupied. Rcccntly the police had received a complaint that valuable motor accessories had been stolen from a case on premises situated next door to the house. Witnesses yesterday found four motor rims complete with tyres and tubes, valued at £80, in the washhouse at the rear of the house, where McNally and Byrne and the other two men had gone. The motor rims, etc., had been stolen from next door.

Chief Detective Hammond, in evidence, said the house had been frequented by out-of-work sailors and had been a source of annoyance to the police. "Byrne had two suitcases filled with dirty clothing that should be se®t to the destructor," said Mr. Hammond, "and he only had 9d on him. McNally was examining the tyres and tubes when the dStectives called, but neither he nor the other men had tried to dispose of them. Byrne has been knocking about hotels with other sailors, and in his state of health he is not fit to be at large. This old dump where these men were found yesterday was previously run by a man known by the sobriquet of 'Gunboat Smith.' However, Smith has been forced to get work and go t* sea."

Mr. King submitted there was no evidence against McNally, who had given evidence of previous employment on ships and had produced a number of discharges. As for Byrne, he had been laid up for twelve weeks as the result of an accident, in which he sustained several fractured ribs. He had been receiving compensation and full pay, while his board was fully paid up. McNally stayed with friends out near Dominion Koad. Byrne yesterday went to Stanley Street, where he had been staying, to pick up some gear. He went with McNally and two other men in a motor car.

Cross-examined by Chief Detective Hammond, Byrne admitted that he stayed for three weeks in the "Stanley Street dump" on his own. He also admitted that he had been in nearly every gaol in New Zealand. The magistrate (Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M.) dismissed the charge against McNally* who had secured a «*b on the Tofua. Byrne's case was adjourned until to-morrow morning for further inquiries to be made.