WHARF PILLAGING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, 7 September 1911, Page 7

WHARF PILLAGING.

THE AUCKLAND CASES. Following is a copy of the written confession made by Joseph Ehrman, recently sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for his connection with the pillaging disclosed in Auckland: — “1 am 56 years of age, and have resided in Auckland for 30 years. For many years I was a clothing manufacturer and warehouseman, employing over 200 people. Of late, years I have been acting casually as a commercial traveller until in the month of February, 1910, I purchased the business of A. E. Glover, Island fruit merchant, carried on by him in Fort Street Auckland, taking his son Arthur Glover as a partner. I paid £2OO as purchase price. This business was carried on by me with Arthur Glover under the name of Glover and Co. In the month of July, 1910, Arthur Glover asked me to come with him to be introduced to a man he knew and wanted me to meet. He did not then tell me his name or what he was. We went down together to Partridge’s corner in Queen Street, and there Glover introduced me to Hadden. A case of drapery goods had already arrived at the store, and been received by Arthur Glover, who had told mo that he had to give a certain man £0 for the case. Arthur Glover got the £6 from me before,,we went out. We met Hadden at Paitridge’s corner, and Glover then gave the £6 or so to Hadden. I was not told anything that day, as to what Hadden was or how the goods wore procured. Arthur Glover suggested that I should travel with the goods, and at the same time get customers for fruit. 1 went to the Islands shortly after that, and returned at the;end of August’or thereabouts. ( I only saw Hadden" the once before I returned from the Islands. On my return Hadden came to the store frequently when not tallying. I now know what Hadden was. The taking of cases now became fairly systematic, cases arriving at the store about once a' month. Hadden used to telephone to the store giving information that cases Ayonld arrive. . As far as I am aware, Hadden is the only tally clerk, who is concerned in these matters. It was to Hadden we looked to get the cases out of the sheds. Arthur Glover as a rule .received the cases at tiro store. Hadden constantly received money from me, and I regularly divided the proceeds of my sales with Arthur Glover equally, after providing for payments to Hadden. To show me how safe it would be ,to carry out the system, Arthur Glover explained to me how, before 1 came into the business, and while Arthur Glover was working for his father, and indeed before ever I became acquainted with Arthur Glover at all, Hadden had sent hundreds and hundreds of cases of fruit to Arthur Glover in the same way, the proceeds of the sale of which were divided between Hadden and Arthur Glover. In the month of July, 1911, I determined to give up any connection with this system, and sold the whole business with some £350 worth of assets to Arthur Glover for £SO, this sum being sufficient to cover my personal and a few business liabilities. I myself have made practically nothing out of these proceedings. I never,even paid any monies to my wife and family for maintenance. I am a persistent sufferer from sciatic neuralgia, and my general health is now seriously impaired. The above statement is true and correct in every particular, and I make the same voluntarily, being desirous of laying bare the whole facts, and exposing my connection therewith. “I may add that Hadden’s demands for money became so persistent that 1 had the greatest difficulty in complying with them. On one occasion Hadden demanded the sum of £5 from me, and threatened that if I did not give him this sum ho would go to my son, and toll my son all about the business, and in consequence of this threat and of my anxiety that my son should not know anything, I was compelled to give Madden the £5. When Hadden came to me at Stratford he demanded money from me. He wanted £l. 1 only had £3, and I had to borrow £! from Mr Godfrey Phillips to satisfy Hadden.(Signed) J. Ehrman.”