ALLEGED THEFT FROM WHARF SHEDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1208, 17 August 1911, Page 6

ALLEGED THEFT FROM WHARF SHEDS.

THREE MEN CHARGED AT AUCKLAND. SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. , ' •■ ' f ;'■ . ; fßy TeloErapb.—Proas Association.) • V .Auckland, August 16. There was a full Court to-day when the charges of i.theffc from tho wharf sheds . c'amo on for •hearing. Tho. first caso called was tliat against Jos. Etonian and Alfred: E. Hadden. In' opening, Detective Marsack said that'tho case against Etonian and Hadden was one of a number which would be" brought against Ehrmnn, in some cases in conjunction with other people, in .'some cases by himself. Tho circumstances of. the present caso were that on Juno 27 Hallenstoin and Co., of Dnnedin. packed a case of'goods, arid forwarded it to .'their agents in Auckland by the s.s. Mokoia, which arrived in Auckland on July 2 and discharged on following days. The caso was discharged into' the I 1 shed, and was seen there. The case was marked ."'C.J''.," and a diamond with a number. On.July 3 tho accused Iltiddcn approached several persons and suggested to them that they should remove this case from the'store. A number refused, but a carter, named Nicholson took the goods on Hodden's instructions to the railway platform,, where i Hadden, was. joined by Ehrman.; Tho .'marks'on tho case were'altered either by Hadden or Etonian by smeaf trig over the original mark and substituting'a: mark of his own, ",T.E. over H." The caso wa.s sent to Stratford, where it was traced, and found in ■ Etonian's possession. It-, had been opened and the goods placed on .sale, but the greater part of the goods had been revovercd and identified. . , A Tally Clerk's Evidence. John: H. Humphries, casual tally clerk for the Union Company and the Hud-dart-Parker Company, said that on July 2 ho was employed taking cargo from tho s.s. Mokoia with- the F and D sheds. He saw the accused Hadden in the 1? shed. Accused wont to witness and asked him to recommend him to Tvlr. Speckman'to deliver-the south boat, as Mr. Henry was unable to come 'down. Afterwards ho returned about 3 p.m. and said: "You .see ■ that case over there?" pointing to one marked "SSK over W" in a... circle, .numbered 731 Witness said, 'TTes." Ho said "What's .wrong.with getting it away. It can easily .bo done, and you'll stand- in shares." Witness refused, and'Hndden called him B fool, again-saying, "It could bo don© quite 'easily!" Witness noticed • another caso closeto the one pointed out. It-was marked C.F. in a diamond,'and witness knew it wa9 Hallcnstein's brand. Ho afterwards saw Hadden about a (juarte<r past one on July 5, outside the. Britomart Hotel. Witness then had some knowledge that a'case had ''been stolen- from ■• tho wharf. Hadden said he heard the detectives were after him, and,witness advised him to make a clean breast of it all, and bo replied that he didn't take anything. Whon asked what he said in tho shed oft the Monday, he replied he didn't take

anything, but someone wanted him to tako something, but got frightened be- ' ' cause, witness would not-go in with them. Ho added that they were going to take . a'couplo of cases. While they were talkin*, Arthur Glover and Barman came up. They spoke some words excitedly, and Jladdea. asked Glover for some money. Glover reminded Hadden.to be on the station at ten minutes past "two, as the train left at that time. ■ ■ ■

Cross-Examination,

. To Mr. .Skelton: When Hnddcn saw witness in' the shed, lie had had a drink or '.Mp, but was.quito sensible. Witness did not know who took.,the case, and put it on tho' cart. He. was quito certain ho saw no one-handle-the case. About tho time Hadden spoke to him he saw several of Carr and Haslam's men there.' He saw iM'lntyre, Nicholson, Braund (Harbour Board cadet), and.a tally clerk called Crohin. Witness was working.-in the "F" shed all that day. Before tho; caso could, go out a tally clerk. would have to give a ticket. Thei.only ones ho saw in tho shed that day wero Percival and Cronin. . . , . ... Did you not send a wire to bring those parties together.at the Britomart Hotel? said Mr. Skelton. ~.■.■ ', ■

Witness,: No. Do you. swear that?—l. signed ■ tho telegram.. . ■.:■.' " ! , • .. ..■..,. What did yod do that..for?— Because I vras.asked tc sign it.-. _. ,' Who--asked you to sign it?—Sir.flalBte'ad.. :'- . . ; . '' :."■'.., , , ■■ What ••time, "were yoii: to' meet ,that evening?— Half-past eight.; ... What was.the meeting,for?—l can t say. Continuing, ; witness. -said ■ ho didn't sign all the tally ■ notes on the afternoon of July 3.- Ho-was tallying between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. M'lntyrei was the receiver. Tho carter, who took tho caso'shonld have got a note from the receiver. -He' saw. Nicholson there, but did not seo anyone touch tho case. Witness, had some years 'ago been 'Convicted twice- of theft from a railway.'.carriage, and been...imprisoned. .':.'■■ ' To Mr.. Singor: On-Monday afternoon he had his suspicions aroused,, and they wore confirmed'on Tuesday by. something tho Harbour Board cadet (Braund)' said - about 'Hadden. takings twp coses. After tho meeting with Hidden on Wednesday (at tho . hotel) witness had an appointment on the Wednesday night at halfpast S. Then Haddea made aa appointment to meet witness again on tho Thursday morning at the train. He didn't turn up, 'and that was why witness 'smt the wire. ' It was not customary for ; witness 'to receivo , suggestions such .as made, by Hadden, though ho had twice-; previously been' -approached. .Ho ilidn't report them. Once it was by Hadden,'and witness advised him to-put Buch.ideas out of his head. On this occasion witness reported 'the matter on tile luesday morning. -'Witness s?id he did not see- Hadden on tho Tuesday, but saw mm at the Britomart Hotel on tho Wednesday, when looking, for. him. Had: r?" 1 » that tUG detectives had offered him .£.30 to say what he knew, and that lie had said he didn't take any oase, a.nd lie would not take-.£looo and split on anybody if ho knew. Hadden told -witboss, he W who. took the cases, but ho wouldn't split on anyone.' After a few words. Hadden said: "Do you want to- know who took the cases, and he ", takvag cases fron, all tho wharves. It's loin Sn„h." Tom Smith was a tally but he had not been employed by wit nesss company for the last ni„„ nth? hn^ Sa B In -« 'H „ Wednesday) ?,n Hv; J lO ,* o '' of tll6m t'irned brou.chr. to witness on Hobson Street Wi,b.v Halstead, nil ready written out and mtiiws signed it. -Witness did not go to see Tom Sm.itli, and didn't ask hini anything about tho matter. . Other Witnesses. mo= ly e, rp ie V ed in the <T" shed "<£ S £,% f*? he saw Hadden in tho sn<i! in the afternoon. Ho overheard a conversahon between Hadden and a Mr Lw?. Lang was coming up the shed and sa.d, Pack this ease up." Hadden raid to witness that the case had b en over-enmed by the Wimmera. The's on ho'easo was CF. and a diamond. W sa:d it was. not his mark ami ir„7u g replied that he need 'not takf/unleT, ho 'kod. With that .Hadden gave a hand to put the case on tho truck, and Lang wjieelcd the case-towards his lorrv I\H,le* w.-us called away, and did "£ sco the case put on the lorn-. Hn W„5 Hodden tell Lang to and waU for Cassin. the Express Company's re(server. c Jamos Lang driver for tho. Express Company said that on the afternoon of Monday, July 3 ho drove his lorry to the V shed. Hadden met him, and said There s a coupe of cases liero for Gollan and Co. They're out. of the Wi.n.mora." He added: "Its all. right, I .fixed them up with Joo, meaning Joe Cassin. nc pointed to one, which was marked C F and a diammid. and witness remarked that it wasn't Gollan's mark. ~Hadden said it was oil right, and gavo witness

a hand to pnt it on tlio hand tnicfc. Witness was called awav at tho time, and didn't put th'o caso on" the lorry. Sensational Statement. Defective Powell 'handed in a copv of the statement Madden had madeto him on July 12. In tin 1 course of this Hadden said ho hud mot Mr. A. E. Glover. M.F., outside his store. Ho told Mr. Glover that tho detectives had pulled him up ami wanted to knotv allfnout the case , that.Etonian had got. Hadden also said I lie thought someone was going to get caught. Mr; Glover told.bini that if he would take the bhirno all on himself he (Mr. Glover) would give him .£l5O, and get him a Government billot. After conversing with Mr. Glover, M.P., for about ten minutes ho then went down ,the Street and met Arthur Glover, Mr. A. JO., Glover's son'. Glover gave him four sovereigns and a railway ticket for Stratford, and told him to tell Etonian not to touch a certain caso that ■ had been sent to Stratford. XTe went to Stratford, and on his Teturn saw Mr. Glovef, M.P., who said, "You'want to say nothing, as it moans a lot of us going to gaol." Both jicsou.'jid wore then committed for triil at the Supremo Court, the defence being reserved. Ebrraan was then charged with Arthur Glover that on or about March. 30 ho stolo from tho wharf valued at JJl4s,' the property of Mi'lno and Choyce, and Arthur Glover was charged that at Auckland on' April 5 ho-forged a telegram purporting to bo signed by A. X'anficld, authorising tho Union Company, Greyniouth, to deliver five cases of drapery. Both wore committed for trial.