CARGO BROACHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 87, 12 April 1940, Page 9

CARGO BROACHED.

SLAUGHTERMAN FINED £10.

THKFT OF WHISKY ADMITTED.

To a charge of stealing seven bottles of whisky, valued at £4 4/10. the property of the Union Steam Ship Company, Michael Kdward White, slaughterman. «™ed A'.i, pleaded guilty in the Police Court to-day before Mr. J. Morling. S.M.

Detective McDonald read a statement made by the accused, in which he said that when he was one of a gang of waterside workers on the Pictou wharf lie had taken two bottles of whisky from a case which had broken open in one of the shed*. He did not take seven bottles, nor did he see any other men take anv.

Detective-Sergeant Trethewey said the accused was seen to open the case with a hook, Cargo broaching was looked upon as a very serious offence by shipping companies, and it was very hard to detect.

Mr. .7. F. \V. Dickson. appearing for accused, said White had been merely iHie of a gang working in the shed at tin , time. Accused had taken only two bottle*, and not seven, but had pleaded guilty to the theft of seven because iit her wise the ca.»e. would have to be dealt with at Pirton. Accused was a married man. and had not been in trouble previously.

The magistrate said cargo broaching was a serious offence. "However, your character has been all right, and therefore I am not sending you to prison,*' said Mr. Morling. "I am treating you extremely leniently. You will be fined £10."