CHARGES OF WHARF THEFT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10234, 17 August 1911, Page 1

CHARGES OF WHARF THEFT.

THE AUCKLAND OASES. [Pek Pji kss Association.]' AUCKLAND, August 16. There was a full court to-day, when the charges of theft from the wharf ••beds came on for hearing. The .first case called was that against Joseph lihrman and Alfred E. Madden.

In opening. Detective Marsack said that the case against Ehrman and Hadden was one of a number which would be brought against Ehrman. in some cases in conjunction with other people, in some cases by himself. The circumstances of the present case were that on June 27 Hallenstein and Co., of Dunedin, packed a case of goods and forwarded it to their agents in Auckland by the s.s. Mokoia, which arrived in Auckland on July 2, and discharged. on the following day. The case was discharged into the F shed, and was seen there. The case was marked "C F," and a diamond with a number. On July 3 the accused Hadden approached several persons and suggested to them that they should remove this case from the store. A number refused, but a carter named Nicholson took the goods on Hadden''s instructions to the railway platform, where Madden was joined by Ehrman. The marks on the case were altered either by Hadden or Ehrnian hv smearing over the original mark and substituting a mark of .his own, "J E over H." The case was sent to Stratford, where it was traced and found in Ehrraan's possession. It had been opened, and the" goods pla.ced on sale, but the greater part of the goods had been recovered and identified.

John H. Humphries, casual tally clerk for the Union Company and the Huddnrt-Parker Company, said that on July 2 he was employed tallying cargo from the s.s. Mokoia into the F and D sheds. He saw the accused Hadden in the F shed. Accused went to witness and asked him to recommend him to Mr Speckman to deliver the south boat, as Mr Henry was unable to come down. Afterwards he returned about 3 p.m. and said. '"You see that case over there, - ' pointing to one marked S S E over W in a circle, numbered 734. Witness said

" Yes.'" He said " What's wrong with getting it away. It can easily be done

and you'll stand in shares." Witness refused, and Hadden called him a fool, again saying it could be done quite easily. Witness noticed another case close to the one pointed out. It was marked C.F. in a diamond, and witness knew it was Hallenstein's brand. Afterwards he saw Hadden about a quarter past one on July 5 outside the Britomart Hotel. Witness then had some knowledge that- a case had been stolen from the wharf. Hadden said lie heard the detectives were after him. and witness advised him to make a clean breast of it all, and he replied that he did not take anything. When asked what he said in the shed on the Monday he replied that he did not take anything, but someone wanted him to take something, but got frightened because witness would not go in with them. He added that they were going to take a couple of cases. While they were talking Arthur Glover and Ehrman came up. They spoke some words excitedly, and Hadden asked Glover for some money. Glover reminded Hadden to be on the station at ten past two, as the train left at that time.

To Mr Skelton : When Hadden saw witness in the shed he had had a drink or two, but was quite sensible. Witness did not know who took the case and put it on the cart. Was quite certain he saw no one handle the case. About the time Hadden spoke to him lie saw several of Ca.i r and Ha.slam's men there. He saw M'lntyre, Nicholson, Braund (Harbour Board cadet), and a tally clerk called Cronin. Witness was working in the F shed all that day. Before the case could go out a tally clerk would have to give a ticket. The only ones he saw in the shed that day were Percival and Cronin. Mr Skelton : Did you not send a wire to bring those parties together afc the Britomart Hotel?---No.

Do you swear that P—l signed the telegram. What did you do that for?— Because I was asked to sign it. Who asked you to sign it?—Mr Halstead.

What time were you to meet that evening?— Half-past eight.

What was the meeting tor?--I can't say.

Continuing, witness said he did not sign all the tally notes on the afternoon of July 3. Ho was tallying between" 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. M'lntyre was the receiver. The carter who took the case should have got a note from the- receiver. Saw Nicholson there, but did not see anyone touch the case. Witness had some years ago been convicted twice of the ft'from a railway carriage, and been imprisoned.

To Mr Singer: On Monday afternoon he had his suspicions aroused, and they were confirmed on Tuesday by something the Harbour Board cadet (Braund) said about Hadden talcing two cases. After the meeting with Hadden (at the hotel) witness had an appointment on the Wednesday night at half-past eight. Then Hadden made an appointment to meet witness again on the Thursday morning at the train. Ho did not turn up, and that was why witness sent the wire. It was not customary for witness to receive suggestions such as mad© by Hadden, though he had twice previously been approached. Ho did not report them. Once it was by Hadden, and witness advised him to put such ideas out of his head. On this occasion witness reported the matter on Tuesday morning. Witness said he did not see Hadden on the Tuesday, but saw him at the Britomart Hotel on the Wednesday when looking for him. Hadden said that the detectives bad offered him £SO to say what, he knew, and that he had said he did not take any case, and he would not take £100(3 and split on anybody if he knew. Hadden told witness he knew who took the cases, but he would not split on anyone. Aft-c-r a few words Hadden said, "Do you ivant to know who took the cases and he is taking cases from all the wharves? It is Tom Smith.'' Tom Smith was a tally clerk employed casually- on the wharves, but he had not been employed by witness's company for the last nine months. Hadden arranged to meet witness again that (Wednesday) night, but neither of them turned up. Witness had seen Ehrman before the Wednesday afternoon but had never spoken to him. Had often seen and spoken to Glover. The telegram was brought to witness on Ho'jsoh Street wharf by Halstead, all ready written out, and witness signed it." Witness did not go to see Tom Smith, and did not ask him anything about the matter. Leonard Braund. assistant storekeeper to the Auckland Harbour Board, said he tvas mostly employed in the F shed. On July '■) (Monday) he saw Hadden in the shed in the afternoon. He overheard a conversation between Madden and a Mr Lang. Lang was coming up the shed with a truck and Hadden called him and said, " I/ack this case up." Hadden said to witness that the case had been overcarried by the Winnriera. The mark on the case was C F and a diamond. Lung said it was not his mark, and .ftQVl&ks

it unless lie liked. 'With that Tiadddi gave a hand to put the case on the truck, and Lang wheeled the case, towards his lorry. Witness was called away and didn't see the case put on the "lorry. He heard K addon tell Lang to pull out and wait for Cassin, the Express Company's receiver. ■James Lang, driver for the Express Company, said that on the afternoon of Monday. July he drove his lorry to the F shed. Hadden met him and said, " There's a couple, of eases here for Gollan and Company. They are out of the Wimmera.' He added " It's all right. I fixed them up with Joe," meaning Joe Cassin. He pointed to one which was marked C. F. and a diamond, and witness remarked that that wasn't Gollan's mark. Hadden said it was all right, and gave witness a hand to put it 011 the hand truck. Witness was called away at the time and did not put the case on the lorry. Detective Powell handed in a copy of a statement Hadden had made to him 011 July 12. In the course of this Hadden said he had met Mr A. E. Glover, M.P., outside his store. He told .Mr Glover that the detectives had pulled him up, and wanted to know all about the case that Ehrman had got. Hadden also said he thought someone was going to get caught. Mr Glover told him that if he would take the blame all on himself, lie (Glover) would, give him £l5O and- get him a Government billet. A tier conversing with Glover for about ten minutes he went down the street and met Arthur Glover, M.r A. E. Glover's son. Glover gave liim four sovereigns and a railway ticket for Stratford, and told him to tell Ehrman not to touch a certain case that had been sent to Stratt'o-d. He went to Stratford, and on his return saw Mr Glover, M.P., who said, "'You want to say nothing, as it-means a lot of us going to gaol." Both accused were then committed f,or trial at the Supreme Court, the defence being reserved. Ehrman was then charged with Arthur Glover that on or about March 30 he stole from the wharf goods valued at £145,-the property of Milne and Choyce. ami Arthur Glover was charged that at Auckland on April 5 lie" forged a telegram purporting to be signed by A. Tanfield. authorising the Union Company. Greymoutli, to deliver five cases of drapery. Both men were committed for trial.