"DESPERATE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 154, 1 July 1937, Page 10

"DESPERATE."

STOWAWAY'S STORY.

HUNGRY IN LOS ANGELES.

MAGISTRATE'S SYMPATHY.

Hungry and without money in Los Angeles, a young Australian, Douglas Carwardine Cotterell, aged 20, anxious to return to . his homeland and his friends, stowed.;' away on board the Union freighter Waiotapu at San Pedro, California, on June 1.

.He was arrested on arrival of the ship at Auckland, and this morning he pleaded guilty to the charge when lie appeared before Mr. AVyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court.

Sub-Inspector Pox said the usual search for stowaways was made by the ship's officers before San Pedro was left, but none were found. However, at 9 a.m. ou the day after the ship sailed, Cotterell reported himself to the captain on the bridge. He had no money or ticket and the price of his fare to Auckland was £30 9/6.

"It appears that he wanted to get to Australia where he belonged," said Mr. Fox. "Although he was not allotted any work on the ship, he did odd jobs and was. of good' behaviour on tlie, voyage. 7n a statement he made to the arresting constable, jGotterell says he left Freemantle in ; November, 1935, by R.M.S. Mooltan and went to Tilbury Docks. After some employment in England he signed on a Swedish ship at Cardiff and weiit to VigOj, in-Spain,r arid.'thence to Seville and' later on to Baltimore in tlie United States.-' Paid off there lie went north to Canada and across Canada to Vancouver, where he worked yon a tug fori* a.-while.- • In search of-'work he travelled to Los Angeles. Unable to get work he says he stowed away at San Pedro. He says he has not been in any trouble before, and we believe this to be correct."

Asked by the magistrate if he had anything to say, Cotterel told Mr. Wyvern Wilson that he had nothing to eat in Los Angeles for 36 hours. "I was rather desperate and stowed away on the spur of the moment to try and get back home," he added.

"On" account of your youth—you are really only a youngster and have been round the world —I am going to treat you with leniency," the magistrate told Cotterel, who seemed relieved at this statement. "I will admit you to probation for one year, a special term being that you will pay your fare in weekly instalments once you obtain work and make an" honest living."