STOLEN STORES ?

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 132, 30 November 1935, Page 10

STOLEN STORES ?

NAVAL COURT-MARTIAL

A midnight isearch of a naval officer's house by the police, who, it was alleged, found a quantity of Government stores, including jam, flour, beans, corned beef, milk, and floorcloth, was described at a courtmartial at Chathiun recently, says the "Daily Telegraph.." William Gordon Tyrwhitt-Bettridge, commissioned gunner, of H.M.S. Pembroke (Chatham Naval Barracks), Gunnery School, Chatham, was charged with fraudulently receiving and withholding Government stores and with obtaining petrol for his own use. The court convicted him on three charges, and he was sentenced to forfeit one year's seniority, to be dismissed his ship and severely reprimanded. It was stated that a detective stopped Able-Seaman John Frederick Ralph, accused's messenger, while he was carrying a parcel containing six pounds of meat. Charged with misappropriation, Ealph made a statement implicating accused, who agreed to a search of his house being made. This was carried out between midnight and 1 a.m. Ralph, it was allegeS, also said that in accordance with accused's orders he had frequently taken parcels of stores and provisions from the galleys to accused's cabin in the warrant officers' mess. On one occasion, it was added, he had taken money lor accused to the driver of the depot wagonette, and at the same time returned an empty petrol tin. "UNDEK ORDERS." Lieut.-Commander M. Cunningham, Duty Commanding Officer at the tune of the charge against Ralph, stated that when he questioned TyrwhittBettridge he said he had given Ralph instructions to take some bones to his cabin. He explained that he kept an Alsatian dog and several puppies. Able-Seaman Ralph said that when he became accused's messenger he was told to go to the galley to get parcels at 8.15 and 12.15 because they were quiet times. Mr. Marston Garsia: Why did you do it?— Because I was under orders from an officer. If an officer told you to steal you would do it?— Yes. Able-Seaman Frank Roper, driver of the depot wagonette, said he had twice given surplus petrol to accused. The latter sent him on one occasion some tobacco and, on another, Is 3d in money, but he returned them both. Two charges relating to flour, peas, and beans were struck out. Tyrwhitt-Bettridge told the court he was a married man, 44 years of age, with two children, and had been an officer for 17 years. He lived at Broadview Avenue, Rainham, Gillingham. On October 5, to his surprise, In found a box containing tins oi jam and corned beef in a drawer in his cabin. He was going to report it, and wanted to see his messenger, but was in a hurry to get home. He did not wish the things to be found in the drawer in his cabin, so he put them in a suitcase and took them home with the intention of taking them back later and interrogating his messenger. Accused was given an excellent character, and described as a most able and efficient officer.