SEIZED GOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 150, 28 June 1933, Page 8

SEIZED GOODS.

RETURN TO OWNERS. TYPEWRITERS—OVERCOAT. PASSENGER DISAPPEARS. An . application by tlie police to determine the ownership of three new portable typewriters and a man's overis coat, seized by Detective-Sergeant McLC Hugh tin tiie Niagara 011 December 20 ie last, was decided by Mr. F. K. Hunt, ie S.M., in the Police Court this morning. Mr. I!. Meredith appeared for four c Vancouver lirms who claimed the goods, . while Mr. A. Hall Skelton appeared for 1 Neils Johannes Clausen, from whom the -t articles were taken. The application was made by the e police under section 32 of the Police ;s Force Act. , s Detective-Sergeant A. G. McHugh said n the Auckland police in December last e received a cable from the Vancouver e police stating that three typewriters - and an overcoat, alleged to have been y stolen by Clausen, might be found 011 t the .Niagara. 'As a result of this cablee gram," he said, "I met the Niagara, c I interviewed Clausen and questioned him concerning the typewriters and 1 overcoat, but he denied all knowledge - of the goods. I searched his cabin and e found one typewriter and the overcoat e in his possession. I could identify the stolen typewriter because of the serial r numbers, which had been given in the s cable from the Vancouver police. 1 1 later took charge of two other type--1 writers which had been given to lnemt bers of the crew to smuggle ashore. These were also identified by the numbers. Clausen then admitted that they had been in his possession. Clausen is also known by the alias of 'Lieutenant Norman J. Calder' and 'Vainer.' On 13. ho returned to Auckland, but afterwards disappeared, going to Melbourne under another name. His wife and child remained here for some time, but they left later, presumably for Melbourne." Mr. Skelton said Clausen was merely 011 his way to Australia. Detective-Sergeant McHugh: Yes, he went for his life when he found there was a warrant from Vancouver for him. Nlr. Skelton produced a cheque book ' 011 a Vancouver bank, belonging to 1 Clausen, showing by the butt of one of the cheques that he had paid for the ! overcoat. Counsel added that he was not as much concerned about the typewriters as he was about the coat, which Clausen maintained he had bought. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said the - cheque given was valueless. The magistrate said that the police evidence was uncontradicted. All order 1 for the return of the articles to their ■ respective owners was made.