SEAMEN’S THEFTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 972, 15 May 1930, Page 7

SEAMEN’S THEFTS

ROBBED THEIR HOSTESS SOME ARTICLES RETURNED ;| ' i watch and chain, a baby's bonnet. ! I a spoon, a tie pin, a bottle of hair oil, | i an egg timer and a pepper box were I 5 the strange collection of articles 6aid I to have been taken by William John t Stephenson, from a house in Welling- j u ton. Stephenson was admonished and ' discharged by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., I at the Police Court yesterday. Accused, a seaman, aged 20. pleaded i guilty to stealing the articles, which were valued at 35« 6d, and belonged to Ada Smith. Chief Detective Hammond said Stephenson, with two other men from the Kaponga, had gone to complainant’s house. Accused and one of the others were under the influence of liquor. During the woman's absence they took the articles to the ship, and it was not until the vessel had left port that they realised what they had done. They wrote to Mrs. Smith apologising and returning some ; of the goods. Articles to the value of 19s 6d had not been recovered. Stephenson said he was willing to j pay the 19s 6d, and the Magistrate | remarked that he would let the man j go, having no wish to start him off with a conviction.