SEAMEN IN TROUBLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11293, 19 August 1922, Page 5

SEAMEN IN TROUBLE

THEFT OF COSTUMES AND SHIRTS. QUARTERMASTER’S FOOLISH ACT. « Two seamen, Joseph Christian and Thomas Oliver appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, to answer to Hie charge of stealing two costumes and two shirts, valued at £lO, the property of some person or persons unknown. Accused, who were represented by Mr A. B. Sievwright, pleaded guilty to the offence. Chief-Detective Kemp stated that the men were quartermasters on the cargo vessel Westmoreland. Whilst endeavouring to dispose of the articles mentioned in the charge to a second-hand dealer, they had been apprehended by Acting-ODetecrtive McLennan, and had not been- able to satisfactorily account for the origin of the goods. It had at first been thought that the case was one of cargo-broach-ing, but of this there was no evidence. Both the men had been very frank concerning the offence, and the captain of the ’Vyestmoreland was desirous of having them on board when the vessel sailed. Neither of the accused had been before the court on. any previous occasion. Mr Sievwright explained that the men had found the articles lying in the water. The goods had been rescued, washed free of the brine and dried, after which the pair had attempted to sell them, honestly believing that the articles were, siUoe they Had their own property. The captain of the_ Westmoreland gave both the men excellent characters. ter impressing upon the accused the foolishness of their actions, the magistrate registered a conviction, and ordered them to come up for sentence when called upon.