COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1918, Page 8

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED

PILLAGING.

George Sullivan, alias James Orme, a, fireman on a vessel now in, port, was charged before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at.the Magistrate's Court this morning with attempting to steal cargo from' the hold of his vessel while, the latter was lying at Auckland. ■ •

Chief-Detective Boddam, in outlining the facts of the case, said that on 17th October, while the vessel was unloading at the King's Wharf, Auckland, the second officer, Mr. Alec Cole, was walking along-the deck, when he noticed-a. light in No. 1 hold, which was.not then being worked. He made investigation^ and discovered the accused in the hold. When asked what he was doing, he said he did not know how he got there, and pretended to be drunk, but the .officer considered the man was sober. A rope was attached to a winch oh deck, arid hung down into the hold and down to a lower deck, where there were two spirit hoppers. The man had no right whatever in the hold. He was a fireman, and was off duty at the time. The circumstances justified a strong suspicion that the accused had gone down the hold to broach cargo, and would have done so had he not been interrupted by the ship's officer.

The latter, in the witness-box, said that there were no signs of cargo having been interfered with .at the time, but two nights. previously some goods had' been pillaged. In the hold was a, naked slush light, and to the lower end of the rope were attached, an iron bar, and a heavy round file. The accused coiild not have entered the.hold by means of the ladder, as the hatch was on, and, in fact, climbed up the rope to regain the deck. Witness did not consider, an intoxicated man could have done' so. .' ■•, ■' Arthur Cecil Brown, second engineer on the vessel, also gave evidence. ■ : . , The accused pleaded not guiltry, and' stated that he^ knew nothing whatever, of the rope, and the crow-bar and- file, i He had seen a light in the hold, and had gone down to see who was there. He did not see anyone, and when Mr. Cole entered the hold said nothing about his suspicions regarding a person who might be in the hold. , Detective-Sergeant Cox Btated that he understood that the man had.signed on the vessel as Sullivan, as he had some three years ago deserted from a ship in New Zealand when he had sailed under the name of Orme., There was nothing else known against the man.

Sullivan was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, bail being fixed in the sum of £50 or two sureties of £25 each. .'■',.