PASSENGER ON NIAGARA

Southland Times, Issue 22948, 22 July 1936, Page 7

PASSENGER ON NIAGARA

SHIP BOARDED IN OVERALLS LEFT UNDER ARREST (United Press Association.! Auckland, July 21. ' A strange story concerning a motor engineer, Theodore Walter Kleinig, aged 46, who walked aboard the Niagara at Sydney in overalls on July 16 and walked off the ship at Auckland yesterday, clad in a smart lounge suit, under arrest, was told in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, when Kleinig was charged with stowing away and landing in New Zealand as a prohibited immigrant. He pleaded not guilty. , Sub-Inspector J. Fox said that the accused had succeeded in impressing the ship’s officers to the extent of allowing him to travel first-class. A tourist named Rector supplied him with a suitThe purser gave evidence of finding the accused in Rector’s cabin, recovering from a drinking bout. The accused wanted witness to send a radio message asking for £5OOO to be sent to him. The message would have cost £l6 to send, and as the address was not known, the message was not sent. After the accused had asked a number of questions, Sub-Inspector Fox said that part of the accused’s prison term had included a period in a mental hospital. The chief officer gave evidence that the accused made so much noise that the passengers complained. Anthony Rector, an elderly retired officer, told of meeting Kleinig in Sydney shortly before the ship sailed. The accused came into his cabin and had a drink. Before they realized it, the ship had sailed. Witness said that he offered to pay the accused’s fare, but the accused said that he could handle his own affairs. Witness came to the conclusion that Kleinig was a man really in need of friendship and that he was convinced that he had not been “had” by the accused. A Term in Prison. Mr J. Mclntosh, Collector of Customs, in prosecuting Kleinig for landing as a prohibited immigrant, said that he had a criminal record and was only discharged from prison in Australia two months ago, after serving for two and a-half years. The accused: That is not so. I was only in nine months. I took the blame and kept the others out. While I was in prison they took my clothes and everything. That’s why I went on board the Niagara in overalls. The Magistrate (Mr W. R. McKean) said that it looked as though Rector had been imposed upon. He said that he had accepted Rector’s evidence on the first charge and would dismiss it, but he would remand the accused on the second charge. “What for, and on what grounds?” asked the accused.

Sub-Inspector Fox: One of the grounds is that you are wanted on warrant from Wellington for false pretences in 1926. The accused: I remember that I was robbed right and left by the Government because I was too straight. They had to get rid of me. The accused was remanded for one week, bail in surety of £lOO being allowed.