THEFT ON HIGH SEAS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 235, 17 September 1936, Page 7

THEFT ON HIGH SEAS

“Simply a Foolish Escapade”

RANGITANE INCIDENT

(Br Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 17.

“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. the solving of the mystery,” said Mr Verschaffelt in the Supreme Court when making a plea for clemency on behalf of Frederick James, aged 26, a steward, and Peter John Frederick Ransom, aged 16, steward’s boy, who pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to stealing £4lO in money and letters of credit and a bank draft of a total value of £7lO on the liangitano between Panama and Wellington. Mr Justice Smith remanded them till to-morrow to consider a suggestion of deportation. Mr Versehaffelt said that it was simply a foolish escapade that could not have ended otherwise than in disaster. When taxed by the chief steward, the boy made a clean breast and the whole of the money taken from the safe was returned. The documents unfortunately had been thrown overboard. The prisoners had been in custody for some time; they had Seen signed off the ship and had lost any prospect with their former employers. He asked for probation and said that neither of the accused wished to remain in New Zealand.