THEFT OF MEAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21922, 17 January 1946, Page 2

THEFT OF MEAT

GAOL FOR WORKER CARCASE ALLEGEDLY CUT Clarence Boulton, aged 42, was charged before Mr. J, H. Luxford, S.M., in Auckland with stealing two pork chops and 11 lambs’ kidneys valued at 4s sd, the property of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Shipping Company. Mr. Hart, who represented accused, entered a plea of guiity. Sub-Inspector Henderson said accused -was seen by a constable leaving Central wharf on Saturday with something in his jersey. At the police station he was found to be in possession of some chops and kidneys, which he admitted he had no authority to take. He was a married man with six children. Mr. Hart said the accused had been working on the waterfront on and off ■ for the past 20 years and it was the first time he had been charged with such a crime. There had been odd pieces of meat lying about on the ship on which he had been working, and he had seen others helping themselves. He was the only one caught and had been quite frank when accosted by the police on the bus terminal. Owing to ill-health, he had only been able to work for four months during the past year.

Sub-Inspector Henderson: We understand the carcase was cut up in the hold of the ship. The magistrate: What supervision was there in the bold? It seems incredible that a carcase could be cut up. Sub-Inspector Henderson, who said there seemed to be no proper supervision, called a representative of the shipping company, who gave evidence that it was difficult for a foreman supervising loading to watch two gangs working on a ship. The stolen meat had been for export. “If the cargo was broached in the course of loading, it puts accused in a very serious position,’’ said the magistrate. In evidence accused said the meat had already been cut up when he took it. He had not broached a box to get the kidneys, which were lying loose in the hatch and were from a frozen lamb. Stating that it was evidently a case of the cargo being broached, Mr. Luxford sentenced accused to 14 days’ imprisonment.

A similar sentence was imposed on John Patrick Hawkins, aged 35. who admitted the theft of 61b. of butter, valued at 9s. which he had taken from a box damaged when being loaded on the ship Port Alma.