STEWARDS' THEFT

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 68, 17 September 1936, Page 22

STEWARDS' THEFT

DEPORTATION WANTED

"A great deal;has been made of this case because a Scotland Yard detective was travelling on the ship, but from what I can ascertain that officer was not required to take any part in tfte solving of the mystery," said Mr. P. Verschaffelt in the Supreme Court today, when making a plea for leniency on behalf of Frederick James, aged 26, a steward, and Peter John Frederick Ranjsom, aged 16, a steward's boy/who appeared for "sentence on a charge of stealing £410 in money and letters of credit, and a bank draft, of a total value of £710, on the Eangitane between Panama and Wellington. They had pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court. ! .

To consider the suggestion made by the Probation Officer^ that the accused be deported, Mr. Justice Smith remanded them until tomorrow morning.

Both prisoners had unblemished records until the present offence which was simply a foolish escapade that could not have ended otherwise than in disaster, said Mr. Verschaffelt. When taxed by the chief steward both had made a clean breast of the affair and the whole of the money taken from the safe was returned. Documents; unfortunately, had been thrown overboard. The prisoners had been in custody for' some time, had been signed off their ship, and had lost any prospect with their former employers. Counsel asked for probation and said that neither of the accused wished to remain in New Zealand.