SHIP’S STORES STOLEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1930, Page 2

SHIP’S STORES STOLEN

A FIREMAN FINED Shortly before one o'clock this morning, Constable Patterson noticed a man walking along Richmond Quay, carrying a handbag which was apparently heavy. His suspicions were aroused and he asked the man what was in the bag. The reply was that it was beer, but the constable demanded that the bag be opened and he then found that the contents were ship’s stores. The man, Walter Middleton, a fireman on the Gabriella, was arrested,' and this morning he was charged at the Greymouth Court, before Messrs F. W. Shallcrass and J. M. Bunt. Justices of the Peace, with the theft of the stores, valued at 12/6, the property of the Union Steam Ship Company. The articles in the bag were two bottles of tomato sauce, two tins of jam, three of milk, three of fish, a packet of tea and a cake of soap. Accused pleaded guilty. Senior Sergeant C. E. Roach prosecuted and stated that after accused was arrested, he stated that he had intended to “drop” the stores for three bottles of beer. Such cases of theft were difficult to detect and the SeniorSergeant submitted that an example should be made of accused and that he be fined heavily. Mr. AV. B. Cunningham, manager of the Greymouth office of the Union Steam Ship Company, said that there had been quite a lot of leakage in regard to ships’ stores, and this class of theft had been going on for a long time. He congratulated the police upon having caught accused, who was a man earning £l9 a month and found. The stores were issued by the chief steward to the men and what was left over remained in the mess room. It was these stores which were stolen. By stealing them accused had deprived other men of that to which they were entitled. On behalf of the Company, he asked that a substantial fine be imposed. Captain Mathieson, of the Gabriella, said that he had nothing against accused, other than that he drank too much, and he had had no cause to doubt liis honesty. Accused stated that he had had no intention of stealing the goods, which were surplus stores and the men would not use them. During the evening he had met a man who had been out of work for a month, and it was to do him a good turn that he had foolishly taken the stores. As the man had not turned up he was returning to the ship, when he was stopped by the constable. He had money, and had no need to steal the goods to get beer. Accused denied having told the constable that he intended to change the stores for beer. Accused was convicted and fined £5, in default 14 days’ imprisonment. ****************** DAYLIGHT SAVING ENDS. Remember to - put back, your clocks to-night by half-an-hour.