THEFT OF FISH

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 73, 23 September 1940, Page 9

THEFT OF FISH

MEN'S STORY FAILS

DECK CARGO BROACHED

"I think you two made your case worse by trying to bluff it out and telling lies," said Mr. J. L. Stouv, S.M., when imposing a sentence of one month's imprisonment with hard labour upon Ralph Copley, a seaman, aged 32, and Robert Adarris, a seaman, aged 37, who were jointly charged with the theft of some crayfish and two other fish, forming part of the deck cargo of the Maori when she was at Lyttelton on September 13. The men denied the charge. Copley was represented by Mr. F. W. Ongley.

Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle, who prosecuted, said that the two men were part of the crew of the Maori, and both were in the engine-room. The chief officer saw the accused among the deck cargo opening a case of fish. They had a hammer and a bucket, and when the officer approached he found that they had four or 5 crayfish and some other fish in a bucket. He spoke to them, and Copley said it was "a fair catch"; Adams replied that the bucket had been there before. The officer asked why broach the cargo when they could buy fish for a few shillings in the town, and Adams said "If we put it back will it be all right?"

Sidney Charles Angus, chief officer of the ship, said that there was a lot of pillaging going on, and admitted to Mr. Ongley that he felt he was being found fault with for not being able to stop it. He did not show the bucket and hammer to anyone else.

Detective-Sergeant W. Tricklebank, questioned by Adams, said that every trip it was the same—oysters, fish, and poultry were missing from the ship.

Adams: Have you ever seen anyone coming off the ship with a handbag? —I have seen you once or twice coming off the ship with a brand new handbag. (Laughter.)

Mr. Ongley, summarising Copley's case, said that the defendant went on deck for a "breather." Immediately he got there, he saw Adams by the rail, and the mate came along and sa:p "What's going on here?" Copley was taken aback. The mate went off into a tirade and said that stuff had been taken for some time, and he had got to get somebody for^t. He said he was going to report the matter to the union, and Copley declined to have anything further to say. There was neither a hammer nor a bucket there, and the men had not interfered with the cases of fish.

Evidence was given along these lines by Copley, and Adams's evidence was to a similar effect.

A witness called by Mr. Ongley said that at the time he was forward by the anchor winch, and he saw the mate come along, but did not see any bucket, hammer, or broken cases.