CARGO PILLAGING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8295, 5 December 1912, Page 4

CARGO PILLAGING

FOUR MEN - SENTENCED. “1 think it is my duty to point-out to you that recently we have had a very extensive amount of cargo pillaging." reo marked Chief-Detective Broberg to Mr W. U. Riddell. S.M., at the Magistrate's! Court yesterday, when explaining the cir-,-cumstonces of the case in ivhich iieury Madden, Anthony Bannister, Henry Thompson, and Geoffrey Cawcour Wilson pleaded guilty to stealing from tfh» New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Otaki, on or about November 29th, two rolls of poplin valued at A 3. On the 23rd of last month the Otaki' left Auckland for Wellington, and on the same day, or the day after. Madden and Wilson, who are quartermasters on the vessel, decided to broach the cargo* With a naked light they wont down into what is known as the “pocket bunker hatch” in. No. 2 hold, broke open < no of a number of cases consigned to Messwt George and George, drapers, of Wellington, and took two rolls containing 129 yards of poplin. Upon a favorable opportunity presenting itself, they hid th« stolen goods in a bunk in tho sleeping quarters. After tho vessel had arrived in Wellington, the poplin was secreted under some wood in No. 1 hold. A day or so later, they again put tho poplin in. their portion of the fo’c’s’le. Whilst - in Wellington, Madden and Wilson met Bannister and Thompson, with whom arrangements were made to try to find some person in town who would buy the material, A whisper of tho affair ems to the ears of Detectives Rawle and Cameron, and they kept the matter ia hand. Last Friday afternoon tnoy watched the doings of Thompson and Bannister in town., In. the evening the latter two went to the Otaki. Wilson obtained the two rolls of poplin, which were made into one package, a line wan * hitched, and : the ■ material .was thrown from the dpslc of the ship to the waiting Bannister and ■ Thompson below. Wilson, who was on duty, stood guard ad the gangway. The poplin was then taken to 1 the* city to bo sold by Madden, Thompson and Bannister. However, the detective upset these accused’s intentions by arresting them , before they, could successfully execute their intention. Wilson was arrested, the following morning on board the Otaki. ■ , ■ Chief-Detective Broberg mentioned that it was'very dangerous for men to take naked lights into a ship’s hold. In pleading for leniency to he extended to the accused, their counsel, Mr H. F. O’Leary, stated- ‘ that Wilson, who ■ was only nineteen years of age, had started out oh a seafaring career, and had hoped shortly to sit for a second officers certificate. This occurrence pow means that his future on the sea would be ruined, and that he would probably bi ' ostracised by his family, who were very respectable people in tbe Old Country.* The other three men had never been charged with dishonesty before. His Worship said that tho offence of pillaging, which was always difficult to detect, was visited by a severe penalty in the Supremo Court. Ho doubted whether it would bo proper for him to inflict a monetary penalty. Madden. . a much older man, should have exercised a different influence on Wilson. Madden was sentenced to four months imprisonment, ' Wilson to two months, and Bannister and Thompson to ono month each.