STRATHALLAN THEFT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 61, 14 March 1939, Page 11

STRATHALLAN THEFT

ADMITTED BY YOUTHS

MEMBERS OF CREW

Arrested before the cruise liner Strathallan left Wellington last night for Sydney, two young members of the erew1, Frank William Chalmers, a lift boy, aged 17, and Victor Jack Bonny, a steward's assistant, aged 19, pleaded guilty when they appeared in the Magistrate's Court today before Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., charged with the theft of jewellery and other articles, of a total value of £48. The property which was the subject of the charge included eight gold wrist- ] lej; watches, four stainless steel wristlet watches, one pendant watch, five cigarette cases, a camera, a travelling clock, three compacts, a set of cufflinks, and a souvenir brooch. The theft was alleged to have taken place at Auckland on March 11. \ On arrival of the Strathallan at Auckland, the store, which contained jewellery and other articles, the property of the Army and Navy Stores, of London, was sealed by the Customs authorities, and it appeared that everything was in order, said DetectiveSergeant P. Doyle, prosecuting. Subsequently it was discovered that the seal was broken, and that watches and other articles had been stolen. The two accused were members of the crew. When the vessel arrived at Wellington Detectives Ritchie, Hedley, j and Cleary'made inquiries throughout the day, and last night succeeded in recovering a portion of the stolen property. They interviewed the accused, who admitted the offence. After referring to the ages of the accused, Detective-Sergeant Doyle said they were being dealt with in the, Magistrate's Court by direction of Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M. The police had no desire that the accused should be kept in the country, he said, and the shippirig company was prepared to take them back and send them Home iri the Kent, which would sail on March 23. He suggested that they be remanded for sentence until March 22. "Where are they to be kept meantime?" asked the Magistrate. "There is only one place where they can be kept, and that is, I am afraid, in the gaol," said the detectivesergeant. "I would like you to consider whether there is any means of keeping them apart from ordinary prisoners, if possible," said the Magistrate. "I would not like to prejudice them more than is absolutely necessary." That was particularly necessary in the case of Chalmers, said DetectiveSergeant Doyle, as he had no doubt that the other accused was the ringleader in the offence. !