ALLEGED THEFT OF BLANKETS

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 50

ALLEGED THEFT OF BLANKETS

STEWARD COMMITTED. FOR TRIAL. WANGANTJI, August 12. .-Another case arising out of the recent visit of ths steamer Armagh to the Wangarui roadstead was hoard in the Magistrate's! Court to-day, when Joseph George Abbott, a steward on that steamer, was charged with stealing 19 blankets, the property of the Imperial Government. The police stated that the lighter Shamrook tendered the Armagh in tho roadstead, hor orew including James Irvine (master), Monte Waller (engineer), Firman (greaser), and Walker Wright. The blankets were got from the accused, and they were taken ashore. Subsequently the police recovered 11 blankets from Waller, 10 from Firman, and three from Irvine. Waller, in giving evidence, said he went 'on the Armagh, and was approached by the accused, who offered to sell 15 or 16 "blankets for £3. Witness accepted the offer,

and they were subsequently delivered on tho lighter. Firman said he saw a man throw four sacks of blankets over the side of the Armagh. Witness bought 10 for 30s from. Waller. _ Hugh M'Dermott, acting mate on the lighter, sa'id he saw the accused throw two sacks over the side. Irvine, the master of the lighter, stated that Firman passed the blankets down into tlie cabin, and witness helped to stow them away. Wilfred James, purser on the Armagh, said the vessel had been engaged as a troopship, and at Sydney ho took over and tallied 7000 blankets. They were valued by the Imperial Government at 17s each for insurance. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial in the Supreme Court.