THEFT FROM SHIP

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 28, 27 October 1945, Page 9

THEFT FROM SHIP

Missing Cloth Found Year Later

Aflor a retirement of 20 minutes a jury in the Su'preme Court, . Wellington, on Thursday, convicted Frederick John Stapleton, tally clerk, aged 32, of stealing a length of worsted suiting, valued at &4/11/4A, the property of the Federal Steam Navigation Company, from the ship Brisbane Star. The Crown Prosecutor. Mr. W. H. Cunningham, said that between May 14 and May 20, 1944, the Brisbane Star was discharging cargo at Wellington. Among the cargo was a case of suitings consigned from manufacturers in England to a dealer in Wellington. The case was landed in a damaged condition and two rolls of suiting were missing. Accused was a watchman in the hatch where the case had been stowed. A detective and another police officer searched accused’s garage at Rosoneath on julj’ 31, 1945, and found a suit length which appeared to be identical with one of those missing 12 months before.

Accused, who was represented by Mr. W. E. Leicester, said that in July, 1044, he was working on the overseas vessel Sunnyside Park, and became friendly with her cook. Before the ship left Wellington the cook called at his home nnd asked him to mind a parcel, but he saw no more of the man.