STEWARD ROBS STEWARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11247, 27 June 1922, Page 7

STEWARD ROBS STEWARD

FOUND DRUNK IN DECK CABIN. “NOT RETURNING THIS VOYAGE.” At the Alagistrate’s Court yesterday, before Air F. K. Hunt, S.M., Albert Baker, a steward on the R.M.S. Alarama, pleaded guilty, though adding that he remembered nothing about it, to the theft of 45 American dollars, an Australian 10s note, two £1 notes, some silver coins, and a gold ring, valued altogether at £l6, the property of William Lucas, another steward on the Alarama; also with wilfully damaging a suitcase, valued at £4, the property of William Lucas. Sub-Inspector AloNamara said that Lucas kept his money in a Prince Charming cigarette-box in a suitcase under his berth. On Saturday last, some time after the Marama arrived at Wellington, Lucas found that the suitcase had been cut in order to open it, and that the cigarette-case, containing his money and other valuables, was gone. Later the accused was found drunk in a deck-cabin, with several of the stolen coins on him, and the cigarette-case that had contained the money, etc., lying broken beside him. He had on him also the gold ring and a five-frano note, with a corner torn off, which Lucas knew very well. The American dollars, and other coins, valued at £lO 17s Id, were missing. The prisoner had some £l3 and odd due to him from the shipping company. The sub-inspector suggested that it would he well if the company would take the prisoner back to where he belonged in Australia. Mr Hunt: Not this voyage. (Laughter.) His Worship sentenced the accused to one month’s imprisonment on the charge of theft, and ordered him to make good the £lO I7s Id missing, and pay £2 for the damage to the suitcase, with witnesses’ costs. On a charge of drunkenness, the prisoner was fined ss, or 24 hours’ imprisonment.