CARGO BROACHING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17662, 24 December 1920, Page 8

CARGO BROACHING.

I OFFENCES BY WATERSI DERS. | ONE MAN SEN T TO GAOL. ! I ANOTHER FIXED TEX POUNDS. A charge of having stolen four hats, valued at £10, the property of the New Zealand Shipping Company, was denied Dy George Nicholson (.Mr. Patterson), a waterside worker, who appeared before Mr. W. R. McKean. S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Evidence regarding a case of velour hats, which had arrived by the steamer Dorset, having been found in a pillaged condition when examined in a shed on the wharf, was given by a shipping clerk, employed by Smith and Caughey, Ltd., to whom the goods were consigned, and by a wharfinger employed by the New Zealand Shipping Company. William Henry Glibbery, a storekeeper, employed by the Harbour Board, stated that when on duty in a shed on the Queen's Wharf on Wednesday morning, he saw accused suspiciously leaning over a case and putting something under his left arm. Witness said: "Put that back." Accused thereupon took two hats from under his arms and threw them on the floor. Witness found two other hats there. Accused said he did not know how long the hats had been there, but notlong, and to witness' "remark that they had been there long enough for accused to be caught, he made no reply, but walked away. The broken case was three cases away from where accused was standing. Accused had been working with a truck, which was nearly 40 yards away. Detective Gourley said that the accused, when interviewed, admitted having had the hats in his hands, but denied that he was stealing them. Accused, in evidence, said that when working in the shed, he noticed paper sticking out from a case, and went to examine it. He found the hats on the floor, and was examining them when spoken to by the storekeeper. He had no intention of taking them away. " The evidence leaves no doubt in my mind," said the magistrate. '' Accused's explanation is one which cannot be accepted. He must be convicted." Counsel for the defence said accused had worked on the wharves since 1913, and had never been previously convicted for dishonesty. He had a wife and two children, and counsel asked th 6 magistrate not to send the man to gaol. " The only way to stop this class of offence is to send those convicted to prison," said the magistrate. Accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Another waterside worker, Arthur Challinor (Mr. Singer), admitted having stolen a lady's hand-bag, two pairs of shoes, and other articles of ladies' wear, of a total value of £12 12s 6d, from cases on the wharf. _ Detective O'Brien said accused had admitted broaching cargo after it was discharged. Chief-Detective McMahon said accused had taken the articles from cases which he found damaged, and had apparently presented them to a young woman with whom he became acquainted about 13 months ago. Counsel, in asking for leniency, said the articles had been taken for presents not profit. Accused was fined £10, in default, 21 days' imprisonment, and was ordered to make restitution within seven days.