JOSEPHINE K. SCANDAL

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1931, Page 5

JOSEPHINE K. SCANDAL

COASTGUARD INTOXICATED

ALLEGATIONS BY THE MATE DUMMY CANADIAN CONTROL OWNERSHIP BELIEVED U.S.A. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7.5 p.m. New York, Jan. 27. K. Schmidt, the boatswain commanding the coastguard cutter which fired upon the Canadian vessel Josephine K. on Saturday night, was intoxicated, Wesley Anderson, mate of the Josephine K., declared to-day. Anderson alleged that Schmidt boarded the Josephine K. after the shell from the cutter had crashed through the pilothouse, killing Captain Cluett. Anderson states that Schmidt said: “Don’t let those fellows 'give me any more liquor; I am too drunk «ow.” Anderson produced a receipt purporting to have been signed by the officer in charge acknowledging custody, for safe keeping, of the instruments from the Canadian vessel. Anderson claimed that the receipt was issued by the same man who’ was in charge of the coastguardsmen who boarded the vessel. ° The State Department reports are said to indicate that not only was the Josephine K. American-owned but the ownership was the same as that of the I’m Alone sunk by a coastguard on April 5, 1929. Both were under the., Canadian registry but it is alleged were controlled by’a dummy Canadian organisation while the actual owners were a New York rum ring, the chief operators of which are now in prison or on bail.