Christchurch Sensation.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXI, Issue 3571, 29 June 1903, Page 3

Christchurch Sensation.

ARRESTS OF RAILWAY MEN,

Cheistohubch, June 26. For almost a year there have been complaints of depredations committed in respect to goods handled by the Railway Department, and, although a strict watch has beeqkept the depredators succeeded in escaping. The broaching of “ cargo ” was of various sorts. A long and arduous supervision by the police has now been brought to an end. The local detective force sheeted home seme of the culprits and three members of the railway service have been arrested and will be brought before the Magistrate to-day and charged with the misappropriation of property. The arrests will not cease here, for it is understood that several other officers will • also be arrested to-day and charged with a similar offence. The position is a painful one, as a number of those alleged to be connected with the misappropriation are old and tried servants of the Department and men with wives and children. The arrests yesterday were effected as quietly as possible. The local detective force has been engaged for months past in attempting to solve the mystery of the robberies. Francis E. J. Hiddleston, Robert S. Flitt and Joseph Francis Terror;, three young married men employed as night shunters at Christchurch, were charged with stealing groceries, wire-netting, whisky, &c., the property of the New Zealand Government, and were remanded for one week on bail of £2O -each and each one in a surety of £2O. June 27. The charges were withdrawn by the police, who are unable to find any stolen property on the premises occupied by accused.