THE ARMAGH CASE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17654, 2 September 1919, Page 5

THE ARMAGH CASE.

ACCUSED FOtIND NOT GtJILTt.

Joseph George Abbot, late a steward on the steamer Armagh, was charged with stealing 21 Blankets, the property of the imperial Government, when, that vessel was at Wangaftui roadstead.

There was' a second count against the prisoner of receiving the blankets.

The evidence was similar to that given when the case was heard in the Lower Court.

The evidence of Alfred C. James, chief steward of the Armagh, was read, the witness having sailed recently with the vessel.

Monte George Waller, engineer on the lighter Shamrock, stated accused offered to sell him some blankets which were afterwards placed on the lighter.

In reply to Mr Mackay, witness said he executed about three commissions for the Armagh, He took out a flask of spirits for accused, but could not gay definitely he took out a bottle of rum. He considered £3 was an adequate price for 15 or 16 blankets. He-thought the steward might have bought the blankets off some of the troops.

Claud Firmin, greaser on' the Shamrock, said a jnan whom he did not recognise, dropped the blankets down on the lighter. The blankets were put in the Shamrock's cabin. When they came ashore witness got ten and paid 30s for them.

To Mr Mackay: One man threw three parcels of blankets over on to the lighter. A fourth parcel arrived but he did not know who threw it.

Hugh McDermott, master mariner, and acting-mate on the Shamrock on the occasion, said he saw the accused throw down two sacks on to the lighter. Accused then came down on board and asked for the engineer. Witness referred him to the engine-room.

James. Irvine, master mariner, said Firmin passed two or three bags of blankets down into the cabin of the lighter and witness bought three from Waller.

Mr Mackay: What did you want them for?— For lining a horse-cover.

That horse-cover cost you £50?— More than that. .

Richard Hammond, waterside worker, and Detective Sergeant Hollis also gave evidence.

ACCUSED'S EVIDENCE

The accused said he was deck steward under charter by the Cunard Company from the Union Company. He had been 21 years with the Cunard Company. He was three years on the Aquatania and eleven years on the Caronia, and had v charge of the linen. Witness had charge of the troop deck of the Armagh and had three men under him. He said he did not at any time sell blankets off the Armagh nor give any away. He_ denied he threw any parcels on to""the lighter. The only dealings he had with Waller was two bottles of rum which were brought off from the shore. Witness went on board the lighter to get it. Witness had a warning about the blankets and spoke, to the chief steward, ths officer on watch, and the quartermaster. The blankets were accessible to anybody on the ship. When the Armagh was at Wanganul a table cloth was stolen off a table before the table could be laid.

I To Mr Marshall: He denied discussing the selling of blankets to a • man named Crane. Waller's evidence was a concoction. 5766 blankets came aboard at London and at Sydney they were 200 short. When a count was made at Wellington they were 700 short. There were