CHARGES AGAINST FOUR MEN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25270, 23 August 1947, Page 2

CHARGES AGAINST FOUR MEN

THEFTS FROM SHIP ALLEGED GOODS VALUED AT £587 (P.A.) AUCKLAND, August 21. Action by a taxi-driver who informed the police of an arrangement allegedly made with four men to carry goods from the Shaw Savill liner Akaroa early on the morning of August 11, led to the appearance of four members of the crew in the Police Court on charges of theft. The accused, Frederick William Robert Cherry, aged 21, John James Heptinstall, aged 22, Peter Hiscock, aged 26, and Gordon Arthur Smith, aged 20, were jointly charged with stealing 50 Belgian rugs, 20 bed covers, five pieces of rayon rpaterial, and 14 pieces of dress material, of a total value of £587. Cherry was also charged with the theft of five lengths of material and 10 pairs of silk stockings, valued at £26. Accused were represented by Mr G. Skelton. Mr C. E. Phillip, J.P., and Mr T. C. Hobbs-Jones, J J*., were on the Bench. Evidence of arrangements to carry goods away from the ship which he said accused made with him, was given by a taxi-driver. Witness said he first picked up the four accused in the city at about 11.40 p.m. on August 10. They told him to drive to the export wharf, and on the way one of the men asked him if he would like to make a "few quid.” “They did not tell me directly, but they said they had some stuff on the ship that they wanted to take off,” said witness. “I gathered it was not above board, but I agreed to carry the stuff.” He dropped the men at the ship, making an appointment to return later, and then reported' the matter to the police. “Parcels Loaded into Taxi” Witness said he was told to return to the ship and he kept his appointment at 12.45 a.m. Two of the men loaded parcels thrown from the ship, into the back of his taxi, and then got in the front seat and told him to drive off. He was stopped by a patrol car just as he was leaving Tinley street to go into King’s drive, and they were taken to the wharf police station. Two men, Cherry and Heptinstall, were taken into the station, and after unloading the taxi, witness returned to the ship again. More bundles were thrown down and put in the taxi by one of the men, continued witness. "He passed some remark about the cops being round, and told me to get going ” said witness. "Before we were stopped by the patrol car again, the man told me that if anyone got in the road I was to flatten him and run straight over him.” They were stopped again, and the third accused, Hiscock,

was taken into custody. "The second time I was at the ship 1 heard someone call a man on the ship ‘Smithy,’ ” stated witness. He went back to the ship again, and called out "Smithy,” and a man came to the rail. He told him the other accused were waiting up town, and the man got into the taxi with him. There was also a constable in the taxi, and they drove straight to the police station, where accused, Smith, was arrested. Cherry. Heptinstall, and Hiscock pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Smith, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial.