MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 233, 25 June 1908, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

POLICE CASES. (Bofpre Mr. W. G. Riddcll, S.M.) CAHGO broaching. A "GROWING" EVIL. The three firemen off the Union Gompany\ steamer Waikare, Robert Johnson,' Charles Johns, and Arthur Addison, remanded from Monday for sentence on a charge of stealing a quantity of beer valued at 55., tho property of tho Union Steam Ship Company, were brought forward. Defendants were caught filling a kettlo from a beer barrel on the steamor Waikare, and on being told to do-' sist went away, but returned to thei barrel, and when again told to leave tho beer alone onp of them struck tho quartermaster, after which the men retired to tho forecastle and drank their beer. '"'''

Chief Doteotive M'Grath informed the Court that the police had made inquiry,.:butcould find; nothing against tho men except the present charge. ■ ) Mr. Wilford -said ho had' been instructed by tho Union Company to ask his' Worship if it were possible to make somo, distinction - in regard to the man-Addison, wlio,.although lie had been a party to the offence and had. pleaded guilty, was not as much to blame as the others.. ' 2 His Worship remarked that the three defendants had pleaded guilty. The offence was a serious one, and really ■' amounted'- to broaching cargo, which offence was becoming frequent of late. If cargo broaching increased any further it would bo necessary, for the Legislature to institute the right of search both on vessels and on the wharves in order to check'tlm growing evil.. Charges of. tho' kind, under notice were frequently before tho Court, and as such offences were difficult to _ detect it was necessary- to impose penalties to put a stop to the evil. The Court was unable to accede tq the application of Mr. Wilford for leniency' for Addison. Each of the defendants would be convicted, and fined £5, in default 21 dava' imprisonment.

ALLEGED THEFT.' A TRAVELLER'S SAMPLES. Wm. Gunn M'Kajj wharf labourer,' appeared oil remand 011 a charge of having on April 6, at Wellington, stolen from a vessel in port articles'of underclothing', valued ait £7 145., the property of Ross and Glendining.' Chief Detectivo M'Grath prosecuted; rlid' Air.' Wilford appeared for. th 9,. .'defeiica.' Emanuel Diamond,, commercial';',traveller., for Ross'and Glendining,, sUw'sfaß;oi£-oB about April 4 last he forwarded a-some.'sam-ples; from Jlartibboroiigli to : Wejlihgton. Ho the samples at Blenheim from, tho steamer Blenheim oii or about April 8, and had them taken to his sample rooms. The hampers were fastened by a spring lock arid strips, and outwardly appeared to b'e in good order. ' On opening tho lids witness's packer called * attention to the oilcloth covering on one of the hampers, which looked as though it had been hastily pulled out and put back. Witness made an examination, of. the contents, and found that' a quantity of underclothing was missing. The articles were exactly similar to the ones witness'liiid missed, all being samples and bearing tho brand of the Roslyn mills. ' ' Thomas Mayer, manager at : Wellington the mill -department for Ross and. Glen.diii'irig, deposed that no garment, exactly simi-, la'r 'to one particular garment in 'the, batch' produced had been sold. Each "of the travellers - had' one pair 'of this particular brand; and none had been reported ' stolen except Mr. Diamond's,. If the travellers, made a present of any goods to a those goods would be' accounted-for to the firm. '

James, O'Flaherty,carter;' deposed 1 that..' he was engaged by Ross and. April 6 tocirty some'' hampers - arid. cases" from'.the Manawatu Station to \the steamer ~ Blenheim ,for shipment to Blenheim, and. consigned to Mr. .'Diamond. The packages were in'good ■ order, and* witness • got a" clean , Teceipt from the officer ,of the ship, who re- " ceivea them.'- ', Detective Connolly deposed that he arrested accused on June 2 on another charge and, : in> coihpariy with-' Detective searched accused's house" at Brooklyn :on ■June-' 4... ''''-The' : article,s , 'prdduced were 'fe- . covered,-' together with' a lot. of other new clothes. Witness told accused that com-T' plaints had been made about goods- being" stolen off the coastal boats at the wharf, and-asked if he could account for the goods ; lie had there. Accused- said he bad boucht' them at auction rooms and shops. He could "■ not mention any of the shops or a'uetion rooms. 1 ; At this stage the case was adjourned until to-day to enable another : witness whose' steamer is bar-bound at Blenheim t-o ;bo called.. !• • '• : A second charge Of having stolen'seven ladies' hand-bags, valued at £4 ISs. 6d.', : the property of some person or persons un~-' known, was" laid against the same defendant, •but, as tlie nolice had no evidence to'offer, tho information wte dismissed. BREACH .OF, THE BY-LAWS. Edward Walker,, who failed to appear, was convicted and fined 10s. and costs 75., in. default .48 hours' imprisonment, for. allowing offensive -rubbish to remain 011, his premises." 1 'i""'.-'-'- ■' ■