MESSBOY’S THEFTS ON SHIP

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22082, 3 May 1937, Page 14

MESSBOY’S THEFTS ON SHIP

RESTITUTION TO BE MADE (press association telegram.) DUNEDIN. May 1. The rifling of the property in the cabin? Ot two members of the ship’s company, one of whom died at sea and the other of whom was thought to 'have been lost overboard, was admitted by a messboy on the steamer Hororata, Richard Pickersgill, aged 19, in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Pickersgill was charged with the theft of jewellery and money. The police stated that during the voyage to New Zealand the ship’s baker died. The usual search was made on the ship for the deceased’s 'property, which w;as taken charge of immediately. After the burial at sea, Pickersgill went to the baker’s cabin and, searching through the deceased s > clothing, stole , money, a gold chain and a sovereign, which he sold at Wellington for 27s 6d; While the Hororata was on the East Coast, the seventh engineer was missing, and was supposed to have been lost overboard. A search for his property: was also made, but the accused got in first and stole a watch. Another , seventh engineer was engaged in Wellington. Pickersgill went through his cabin and stole money. Pickersgill was discharged from a London prison on January 3.0. The Magistrate said that a man ot this type was not wanted in New Zealand- Pickersgill was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. Arrangements are to be made, by the master for restitution to be made from the accused's earnings on the vessel’s return journey. ■ ■