MISSING FIELD GLASSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 286, 3 December 1930, Page 9

MISSING FIELD GLASSES.

DISAPPEAR OFF TUTANEKAI. TWO FIREMEN IN COURT. Two firemen, members of.the crew of the s.s. Port Nicholson, appeared at the Police Court this morning, charged with etealing a pair of field glasses, valued at £8. belonging to Harry Morrison, at -Wellington on November 22. They were. Andrew Colligan (29) and Henry Church (24). ! Each was alternatively charged with receiving the field glasses, knowings the article to have been, dishonestly obtained. They pleaded guilty to the charge of receiving, but denied the, theft charge. On the application of Detective-Ser-geant Kelly, the major' charge was ■withdrawn. Mr. Kelly said the field glasses had teen stolen from the Government steamer Tutanekai at Wellington on November 22. Both accused were on board' the ship tbat day, and -when the caretaker's back was turned the glasses disappeared. Yesterday Detective-Ser-geant McHugh searched the crew's quarters on the Port. Nicholson and discovered the field glasses in property belonging "to . Church. "Church explained that he got the field glasses from a man in tho street at Wellington, but that is an old story," said Detective-Sergeant MeHugh. " The police stated that Colligan had previously been convicted of theft, while Church had been convicted of an offence arising out of drunkenness. The magistrate fined Colligan £3 and Church £2, both fines being in default of a month's imprisonment. "I won't pay," said one of the men. "No, they don't want to sail with the isteamer to-morrow. We don't want them here," said Mr. Kelly. Both were ordered to be placed on the ship when it sails.