THEFTS OF CARGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17574, 13 September 1920, Page 6

THEFTS OF CARGO.

OFFENCES ON THE MAHIA.

EIGHT MEN CONVICTED. FINES OF £10 EACH IMPOSED. The eight firemen and trimmers belonging to the steamer Mania, who were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday on charges of cargo pillaging, were each convicted and fined £10 by Mr. "W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court, on Saturday.

The charges were the sequel to inquiries made by the police consequent upon the discovery that several cases of cargo in one of the holds of the vessel had been broached. Winchester rifles formed part of the cargo, and the sale of two of these rifles to pawnbrokers led to the arrest of six members of the crew. Detectives searched the ship and arrested two more men, who had a number of pairs of cashmere stockings and tubes of tooth paste in their possession. Chief-Detective McMahon said other stolen rifles and goods had been found in the coal bunkers of the vessel, but he could not say what the extent of the pillage was. The eight accused were not the class of person<wanted in New Zealand, and it was not desirable that they should leave the ship. It appeared that the men had forced a door in the bulkheads leading to one of the holds, and had conducted raids on the cargo with a view to selling it at the various ports. All the men had a fair amount of wages due to them, and this could be dealt with by the Court. The magistrate said it was nbt desirable thct the men should' be left here. He ordered each to forfeit £10 of his wages.