“HIDE AND SEEK”

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 175, 12 April 1923, Page 9

“HIDE AND SEEK”

CARGO PILLAGERS CAUGHT IN ACT IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS FOLLOWS • ' BY TBLECBAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Christohuroh, April 11. In the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court to-day, Charles Frederick Ingram, Albert Edward Jenkins, and James Lola Stowo, three seamen from the s.B. Hurunui, were charged with stealing eight rolls of satin and seven and ahalf pairs of slippers (total value £2O), the property of the New Zealand Shipping Company. Sergeant Mcllolm stated that, the accused were noticed at 1 a.m. in a hold on the steamer. When asked . what they were doing, they replied that they were playing hide-and-seek. Captain Davey, master of the Hurunui, stated that pillaging on. the last trip from the United Kingdom was first discovered before Reaching Panama. Tho lazaretto was found to have been tampered with and several cases were found to be pillaged. Firrther cargo-broaching attributable to the crew was also discovered. while laying at Tokomaru Bay on March 29. At Wellington on April 3, on an inspection being made of No. 5 hold, the padlock locking the escape hatch was found to have been forced and a large quantity of general cargo was missing. At Lyttelton the padlock on No. 5 escape hatch was again found forced. Tho police were informed and tho arrests were made. He considered that goods to the value of £2OO had been stolen. Accused told the Court that'it was tho first time they had committed the offence and they had been unlucky enough to be caught. The Magistrate pointed out that they were liable to twelve months’ imprisonment, and said that in future he would deal more severely with oflenders than he intended in the present case. Ho sentenced each accused to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour.