Magistrates Court Ship’s Engineers Fined £20 For Converting Launch

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 3

Magistrates Court Ship’s Engineers Fined £20 For Converting Launch

“Thau type of conduct must be discouraged as greet damage could be done by intoxicated persons trying to sad a Launch," said Mr E. A. Lee, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday when fining James Alexander Macdonald, aged 27. and John Daly, marine engineers, £2O each on a charge of converting to their own use the Lyttelton Harbour Board launch, Suahipe, valued at £l2OO, on January 24. They were ordered to pay costs on a change of unlawfully going on the tug, Lyttelton IL They pleaded guilty to both charges. Detective-Sergeant J. P. Crozier said at 2.15 ajn. on January 24 a Lyttelton harbour watchman noticed the launch Ruahane being backed from its berth in the inner harbour. The police were told and a constable went to the oil wharf where be saw Daly coming up the steps on to the pier. Daly admitted he had no right to take the launch. Macdonald had disappeared but when found he admitted being on the launch. Both accused bad consumed alcohol but were not drunk. The launch was not damaged. “Neither man is known in this country and both have good records in the ship,” Detective - Sergeant Crozier said. “Their ship is due to leave Lyttelton today for Picton and it sails from there to the United Kingdom.” The accused also admitted going aboard the tug, Lyttelton n, after attending a party, said Detective-Ser-geant Crozier. They said they wanted to inspect the engines as they were interested in them because they were marine engineers. They did not interfere with anything. Mr J. R. Woodward, who appeared for both accused, said Macdonald was married and was third engineer in the Hinakura and had served with the company for six and a half years. Daly was the fifth engineer on the ship and had been with the company for two years. Their conduct was not criminal but rather the result of over indulgence in liquor. Both had exemplary records and as a result of the episode their careers were placed in jeopardy. They would suffer a penalty out of proportion to the offence, as they were liable to 'be discharged. Mr Woodward said. FINED FOR ASSAULT “Whatever the accused's rights were, he was not entitled to force his way into someone’s property,” said the Magistrate when fining Henry Ross Bush, aged 27, a bricklayer, £5 on a charge of assaulting Phyllis Mary McGarry on December 16. Bush was convicted and ordered to make restitution of £lO on a charge of wilfully damaging a door, the property of Charles McGarry. Bush pleaded guilty to both charges. Detective-Sergeant Crozier said at 2 pjn. on Sunday, December 16. Bush called at the home of his wife’s parents and said he wanted to take his baby son for a car ride. He was living apart from his wife. When told he could not take the child Bush smashed the door in with a large concrete block and removed the child. While in the home he struck his mother-in-law across the left side of her face with his open hand. Bush left after threatening the family. The police were called and Bush was found with the child at his home, DetectiveSergeant Crozier said. He was arrested. Bush said that as he was the child’s legal guardian he had every right to enter the house where his wife stayed, by force if necessary, to see his child. He said he was told this by his lawyer. Mr D. H. Godfrey, who appeared for the accused, said that although Bush was living apart from his wife there was no separation agreement or custody order. Bush had the right to see his child. “Bush was more sinned against than sinning,” said Mr Godfrey. “I did tell him he was entitled to access to his baby, but I did not say he could use force. He laid assault charges against his mother and father-in-law, but the police, for some reason best known to themselves, did not proceed with them. In contrast he was arrested and placed in the cells some time after the incident was over,” .

“HID MONEY IN TOOTHPASTE” A prisoner, who escaped from a cabin in the Hinemoa, purchased liquor with money he had concealed in a tube of toothpaste, said his counsel, Mr R. G. Blunt.

Dayid George Keenan, aged 26, wm fined £lO on a charge of escaping from lawful custody between Wellington and Lyttelton on or about December IX He pleaded guilty. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing Ife 6d and was remanded on bail on this charge to February

Detective-Sergeant Crozier said seven prisoners were locked in a cabin on the Hinemoa when being transported from Wellington to Lyttelton. About 10 p.m. one of the escorting officers turned out the cabin light and sat outside the door. It was believed that there was only one exit from the cabin. Later four of the prisoners were found on A deck by a member of the crew who suspected that they were stowaways.

Keenan was found in an intoxicated state in a toilet on C deck. The prisoners had escaped by forcing a crash panel in the cabin. Keenan had previous convictions. Detective-Sergeant Crozier said.

Mr Blunt said there were seven prisoners in a 20 berth cabin. Keenan had got out the door of the cabin. He had purchased liquor from money concealed in his toothpaste and was waiting his chance to get back into the cabin when he was caught. SLEPT IN CEMETERY A man, who when arrested told the police he had slept the previous night in a cemetery and that he had not had a meal for two weeks, was convicted on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, in that he had insufficient lawful means of support, and remanded to February 1 for sentence. The man, John William Cavanagh, aged 31, pleaded guilty to the charge. Detective-Sergeant Crozier said that after verbal complaints of a man, in a dirty condition, wandering around the Phillipstown area, the accused was seen by the police. STOLE £ll When a man, who had been given 10s to buy more beer, failed to return to the boarding, house his friend found that £ll had been stolen from his wallet, said Detective-Sergeant Crozier. George Tanner McLaughlin, aged 32, pleaded guilty to the theft of £ll from Harold James Tyson on January 23 and was remanded in custody to February 4 for sentence. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft of £6 19s 6d and on this charge he was remanded to February 1. McLaughlin and Tyson were drinking in a room at a boarding house, Detective-Sergeant Crozier said. McLaughlin was, asked to get 10s from Tyson’s wallet to buy more beer. He went to the wardrobe and removed £ll from the wallet while still behind the door. McLaughlin then took 10s from the wallet In front of Tyson. DIFFERENT PLEAS Arriving at his home in Crekye road in his father’s car on January 21 a man saw two youths interfering with his own car, which was parked outside his home, said DetectiveSergeant Crozier. Before the. Court on a joint charge of theft of petrol, valued at 3s 3Jd, from the car were Leonard Everest, aged 18, and Peter Lloyd Machdrus, aged 17. Everest pleaded guilty and was remanded on bail until February 1 for sentence. Machirus pleaded not guilty and was also remanded to February 1 for the hearing of the charge against him. When the youths were ap- ? (reached they made off but ater in the night Everest went into the Central Police Station and said he had been one of the youths. He denied that anyone else was Involved, Detective-Sergeant Crozier said. THEFTS ADMITTED Pleading guilty to two charges of theft while under police escort on the inter-island ferry, Hinemoa. on or about December 13. Andrew Richard Fraser, aged 21. was convicted and remanded until February 4 for sentencing. On a charge of escaping from lawful custody on the same night, Fraser pleaded not guilty and was remanded to February 4 on this charge. Detective-Sergeant Crozier said that the accused was at present serving a prison term. After the crossing on the ferry a clock and a signet ring, valued at £7. and a razor, valued at £B, were reported stolen. They were later found among the accused's possessions, OBSTRUCTED POLICE When police were making routine inquiries at a motor accident at the corner of Linwood avenue and Worcester street on January 19 they were continually interrupted by Mana Malcolm, said DetectiveSergeant Crozigr. Malcolm, aged 28, a locomotive engineer, pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing the police and was fined £3. He was represented by Mr P. Thompson. Detective-Sergeant Crozier said the accused was warned but he persisted in Interfering. Mr Thompson said tbe obstruction was only technical and not physical. FIGHTING Seeing a fight between three youths in St. Asaph street at 10.10 p.m. on January 26. a civilian broke in. stopped the fight and apprehended one of

the participant*, sold DetectiveSergeant Crozier. VtaMtel guilty a *c!l ugnunff and wa# convicted and fined ». He bad no excuse to offer. CHMKMB ADMTTRD Ott two chacfiM ,eC untow fufly converting care, one of .unlawfuHy converting a nKotnr-cycto, and two of bwqtecy, Ronald John Harvey, aged 17. a factory worker, was convicted and remanded until February | for sentence. He pteoded gufity to »» the obMVea. which took place between January 1 and January IX THEFT OF £8 A' cash register in a etty firm was found to be £8 short on January 14 and at noon on that day a ternate employee, who had been working at the counter where the cash register was. left said DetccHve-Sevgeant Crater. A girl, whose name was 'impressed, was remanded until February 1 for sentence when she pleaded guilty to a Charge of theft as a servant. She was represented by Mr M. J. Glue. STOLE CLOCK The theft of a dock, valued at £4, and a necklace, valued at £l, from a house he visited on January 26 was admitted by John Henry RestaH Coffey, aged 57, a worteman. He was remanded to February 1 for sentence. Detective - Sergeant Crozier said that when the article? were found in Coffey's possession he said he had taken them because he was short of money and had hoped to sell them. DRUNKENNESS Henry Savage, aged 43. was fined £2 on a charge of being drunk in Worcester street on January 26, having been convicted for a simitar offencr within the last six months. REMANDED On a charge of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs on Ferry road on January 21, Noel Edmund Swanston aged 47, an accountant, was remanded on bail until February 4. Ashley Avon Andrew, aged 36. was remanded to February 4 on a charge of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs on Riccarton road on January 27. Charged with driving white under the influence of drink or drugs in Hereford street on February 4, Elsie Grace, aged 35. was remanded until February 4. Bail was allowed. John Richard Clarice aged 43, was remanded on bail to February 18 on a charge of driving under the influence of drink or drugs on Yaldhurst road on January 11. John Taime Rikitiana, aged 22, was remanded on bail to February 4 on a charge of offensive behaviour on January 10.