THEFT ON LINER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 248, 17 September 1936, Page 9

THEFT ON LINER.

SEQUEL IN COURT.

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. “A great deal his been made of this case 1 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 P. D. 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, a steward’s boy, who pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to stealing £4lO in money and letters of credit and a bank draft, to the total value of £7lO, on the Rangitane between Panama and Wellington. Mr Justice Smith remanded them till to-morrow to consider a suggestion of deportation. Mr Verschaffelt said it was simply a foolish escapade that could not have ended otherwise than in disaster. When taxed by the chief steward both made a clean breast, and <.uo 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, had been signed off tile 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.