CARGO PILLAGING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19101, 20 August 1925, Page 13

CARGO PILLAGING.

INCIDENT ON TURAKINA. SILK MATERIAL STOLEN. TWO WATERSIDERS FINED. Two waterside workers, James Walter Daniel Kennedy, aged 65, and Walter Ernest McLean, aged 49, charged in the Police Court yesterday, denied stealing a roll of silk material, valued at 7s 6d, the property of the New Zealand Shipping Company, last, Friday. Chief-Detective Cummings prosecuted, and Mr. J. J. Sullivan appeared for the defence. Henry S. Newland, watchman, employed by the New Zealand Shipping Company, said ho was on duty in No. 2 hold on the steamor Turakina, berthed at tho Queen's Wharf, last Friday evening. At about eight o'clock he was attracted by tho rustling of paper and saw Kennedy and another man pillaging a case. When ho approached they moved away. He followed Kennedy, who attempted to throw tho material into tho hold but it fell on to the coamings. The man then went toward the lorccastle head but witness did riot follow. Ho was sure of Kennedy's identity. Mr. Sullivan cross-examined witness at length, with tho object of showing that his allegations against Kennedy wero biassed. Witness denied there was any bias. Mon Seen at the Case. Nicholas Kiely, another employee, said ho was supervising unloading woik at No. 3 hold and from where ho was standing he saw Kennedy crawl over the cargo on hands and knees. Kennedy stopped at the case and appeared to investigate the contents. Ho was accompanied by another mail and witness afterwards ascertained it was McLean. In the opinion of witness they were pillaging the case. Newland then appioached and they decamped, Kennedy running to No. 1 hold and McLean forwaid to dodge behind a pillar. Witness had no giudge against tho men. His object in not mentioning the matter at once was to rope in as many as might be in the joke. The fourth officer of the iurakina said the case was portion of the cargo for Wellington, and tho men would not have authoi ity to go near it. Wilfied C. Sinel, whaifinger, said the case had been very badly pillaged, and a loi of lobes wero missing. The silk produced corresponded with the description of the contents of the box that was found empty The frock shown bore a number coinciding with the number of one of seven missing from another box. A statement that he found the frock lying in No. 2 hold was mado by a cusioms officer. Defence not Accepted. On behalf of the accused Mr. Sullivan stated they were before the Court for tho first, time. He submitted that both Kiely and Newland had a grudge against them and he considered it extract dinary that the arrests were not effected until tho following morning. Both the accused stated in evidence that they were innocent and had never seen the case until that morning. Tho magistrate, Mr. Poynton, said the Court was on the horns of a dilemma. It had to believe either that the two accused wero in the hold or that the two informants had conspired against them. The more probable story must be ac cepted. If there was any doubt the benefit would be given to the accused. The Court could not believe that tho men conspired to commit perjury against the accused. The previous good character of tho accused would bo considered, and they would each be fined £2O. Two months would be allowed for payment. 00AT FROM DORSET'S CARGO. IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE WEEK. A charge of stealing a lady's rubber coat valuod at 30s, belonging to some person unknown, on or about last Saturday, was then preferred against McLean. Mr. Sinel said tho coat was similar to some that were stolen recently from the Dorset. Evidence that he found the coat at accused's house was given by Sergeant Flanagan. Mrs. McLean had said she bought it. Dorothy McLean, wife of accused, stated in evidence that she found the coat on Grafton Bridgo early ono morning. She told tho sergeant she bought it because she was flurried at the time. " It was a remarkable co-incidence that she found a coat of the same kind as the stolen ones," Mr. Poynton remarked. McLean was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment.