Charge Of Assisting Stowaway Dismissed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 21

Charge Of Assisting Stowaway Dismissed

6Vru> Zealand Preu Aasociationi

WELLINGTON, June 2.

A Sydney couple bound for England was allowed to continue on the liner Fairsky tonight after a charge against the husband of aiding a stowaway had been dismissed in the Magistrate’s Court.

Earlier Mr and Mrs Lein Schuman had been told by shipping officials that they would be disembarked. After the court case, talks were held on the ship between the Schumans, their lawyers, and the Fairsky’s master. Captain F. Rocconi, and the couple was allowed to remain aboard.

Schuman, aged 33, a construction manager, appeared before Mr R. D. Jamieson S.M. with Maurice De Gail, aged 28, a student, who was charged with secreting himself on the Fairsky at Sydney. The charge against De Gail was also dismissed. Both men pleaded not guilty. De Gail said he attended a farewell party on the liner at Sydney. He fell asleep and did not awaken until next morning. He said he had only the clothes he was wearing. He had no toilet gear and only £3. De Gail said he wandered around the decks.

Schuman and De Gall's counsel told the Court they were willing to admit De Gail did not have permission to be on the liner and that he was found in Schuman's cabin.

After an adjournment to allow counsel to discover if there was a precedent—none was found—the Magistrate ruled that De Gail had no intention of going to sea.

He told De Gail he had acted foolishly and In a manner likely to arouse suspicion and doubt. The Schuman’s were aboard the Fairsky when it sailed at

10.15 p.ra. for Papeete. De Gail was in Wellington. Two other persons in the Fairsky faced charges earlier today. William Charles Andrews, aged 18. a workman, pleaded guilty to stowing away on board the Fairsky at Sydney. He was convicted and sentenced to seven day’s imprisonment. The Magistrate ordered his deportation. Harry Heath, aged 19. a steel moulder, was charged with being a party to the offence committed by Andrews. He was convicted and fined £l5.