CARGO PILLAGED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10597, 24 May 1920, Page 2

CARGO PILLAGED

THEFTS ON MANUKA. OFFENDER SENT TO GAOL. William Campbell, labourer, who appeared on remand to answer a charge of stealing a. pair of ladies’ shoes valued at El 15s, the property of the 11.5.5. •'Company, was convic.ted and sentenced to 21 days’ imprisonment.

Deteetive-Sergoanfc Lewis, who conducted the prosecution, said that on tho 14th of, the month the defendant was employed on the Manuka as a cargo worker, from which vessel a number of cases of boots and shoes aipl whisky were landed in a pillaged condition. Detective Ijricklebank saw Campbell, who was in a drunken condition, coming ashore with a parcel -containing: a pair of shoos secreted under his coat.

Mr H. F. O’Leary, -who appeared for tho accused, said, that Campbell had been drinking prior to going on the (Manuka to work, and was seen somewhat tho worse of drink by a constable. Flo- admitted stealing tho shoos, but it was purely the act of a drunken man. Campbell had borne an excellent character previously, and when his house was searched by tho police nothing was seen or found that would implicate him with any of tho thefts that had taken place qn the waterfront. Tlio defendant had a wife and five children (tho eldest was 11 years of age and the youngest five weeks old) to support. Counsel asked tho court to extend the utmost leniency possible to the accused. The magistrate said that there appeared to be a great deal of pillaging going on at the present time on the waterfront, and till the practice was stopped, the court would impose penalties that would meet the crime. Sentence as above was passed.