THREE STOWAWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 15 September 1928, Page 11

THREE STOWAWAYS

EVASION OF AN ORDEK? Oa Monday lust Frederick -Bryant, a labourei', aged i£, was sentenced to six months'imprisonment for. failing to maintain his five children, the warrant to be .suspended so long -as he made payments each week. This morning Bryant and two other men—Leonard Ivan Gillman, a cook, aged 22, and Jeremiah M'Gavin, a fireman, aged 27—were charged in the Magistrate's Court with attempting to leave New Zealand by the Maheno yesterday afternoon without first paying their fares, and with intent to avoid payment.. All three pleaded guilty to the charges. Chief Detective Ward stated that a. few minutes before the Maheno sailed yesterday the three men were found couI cealed in the firemen's quarters. They had no money to pay their fares. Bryant had been working about Wellington for some time; Gillman had been paid off the Maheno a short time-ago, and had approached the company to try and get a reduction of the fare.to Sydney, but had been unsuccessful; and M'Gavin had deserted from an overseas steamer about a week Bryant was also charged with leaving New Zealand with intent to. disobey a maintenance order. To this charge lie pleaded not guilty. In December of last year, stated the Maintenance Officer (Mr. J. _ Manning), orders for the support of his wife and five children were made against Bryant, but in March last his wife and children left New Zealand for. England. Since then, added Mr. Manning,. Bryant had made no attempt to pay m any money on the two orders. The arrears on the order for the support of his wife amounted to £28, and oh that of his children kbi 10s On Monday Bryant was convicted tor failure to comply with the children s order, and ordered to pay £2 11s a week, in default six months' imprisonment. lhe first payment was due on Monday next, ne added. He had paid nothing since his wife left for England. . •,„.../■.,• On the first charge the Magistrate (Mi. E Page, S.M.) fined each ot the three men £2, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. "In Bryant's case, I do not think that any useful purriose will be served by sending him to gaol at the present time, said Mr. Page. Bryant attempted to interrupt, but Mr.. Page stopped him. 1 not think you have made any real a"™l^ to support your wife and children, ne on the. second charge, and ordered to come up for sentence within twelve months if called upon.