THE JEWEL ROBBERY ON BOARD THIS S.S. WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6563, 29 November 1882, Page 6

THE JEWEL ROBBERY ON BOARD THIS S.S. WELLINGTON.

i At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J. E. Maedonald, Richard Healy, Thomas '.Stewart, Peter Young, Joseph Roderick (otherwise Rodrigues), Benjamin Sutherland, George Deane, and Hans Errickscn were again placed in the dock upon the charge of stealing £652 worth of jewellery, watches, &c., from on board the steamer Wellington, on the 4th of November. Mr. Theophilus Cooper, as on the first examination, appeared for the prosecution. Captain Alexander McGregor, manager of the Northern Steamship Co., was examined as to the employment of the prisoners on board the Wellington at the date of the robbery. He could not speak to all the prisoners. The Wellington belonged to the company at that time, and she was not under charter to anyone. Constable George Strathem (acting detective) deposed to the " plants" in which a large proportion of the stolen property had been found. He produced the tin box in which the st-len property had been contained. He traced the watch, No. 02757, identified by the witness Solomon to the possession of Stewart. Stewart afterwards admitted pledging the watch to Solomon. He went to the Crown Hotel, Grey-street, with Constable Jones, where be arrested Healy, who said he knownothing about the robbery. Searched Healy, and foundon himadiamondring, covered with mud ; also a knife covered with mud. This was No. 3 ring, identified by the prosecutor. He next arrested Roderick, or Rodriques, who made a statement which was taken down in writing. [The statement was put in and read.] It described the manner in which the robbery had been committed. Roderick got into the hold through the fore-cabin and the sail locker. He took some pipes and cigars, not intending to take the lot. liut one of the other prisoners recommended a clean sweep to be made. There appeared to be considerable discussion among the prisoners on this point. The statement described the breaking of the lock, and the bursting the box open. The prisoners most implicated immediately awakened to the knowledge that they would get seven years if they were found out. They next showed an anxiety to get rid of the proceeds and brought it to Deane's house in Ponsonby. Deane said he would have nothing to do with it. It was taken from there and planted in a gully near the gas works in Collegeroad. While Roderick was planting the stuff he was knocked down, and he did not remember anything else. The watches, diamond rings, etc., were found in two pieces of oil cloth. It was found that the cloth was of the same description as that on the lloors of Denne's house. Alexander William Farquhar, a clerk in the oflicc of tiie Northern Steamship Company, said all the prisoners except Stewart were employed as seamen or firemen on board the Wellington at the date of the robbery. Sergeant Martin, of the Water Police, produced the boards with which the hole through which access was gained to the hold had been nailed up. These hoards belonged to a berth adjoining the hunk in which the witness Cropp slept. Sutherland made a statement, which witness took down in writing. He pointed out a bole through which he said one of the watches was thrown, while other articles bad fallen over the side of the wharf. fThis statement also described the particulars of the robbery. | The witness read it over to Roderick and Deane, but Deane made no reply. One of the statements was that a brooch had been given to Deane, but the prisoner afterwards could not say whether there was a brooch in the parcel or rot. Roderick and Sutherland admitted that the statement was written out correctly. [It was also read by the constable in the presence of Roderick. Sutherland, and Healy, but Healy made no reply.] The witness next deposed to a conversation between Roderick and Sutherland. Witness arrested the prisoner Deane on the ISth of November. Deane said lie knew nothing of the all'air. Sergeant Martin also took down in writing a conversation between Deane and Roderick, relating to the circumstances under which part of the property was brought to Deane's house, and his refusal to have anything to do with it. It was stated by the prisoner that Peter Young was drunk at the time. A large quantity of the stolen property was found under the house of Mr. Thompson, in llobson-street, by a little girl, six years of age, whose evidence was not received, owing to her inability to convince the Court that she understood the obligation imposed by taking an oath. This concluded the evidence of the police, and the case was further remanded until Wednesday morning.