CARGO PILLAGING

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14767, 5 October 1921, Page 5

CARGO PILLAGING

+ —_— AN AUCKLAND SENSATION, WHOLESALE THEFTS. BALES TAKEN FROM WHARVES. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Wednesday. Startling evidence alleging a conspiracy to steal goods from the wharves was given before Mr Poynton, S.M., in the City Court yesterday, when William Campion (43), motor van driver, an.l William Lanksheer Waters (36), an-i Herbert Cummins (41), tally clerks lately in the employ of the U. 5.3. Company, were charged ou several indictments of theft. Campion pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentence. Waters and Cummins defended the charges. Mr R. A. Singer appeared for (Jampton and Cummins and Mr J. J. Sullivan for Waters. The charges in detail were that the accused men stole on August 29, 1921, a case of ladies' hoisery, valued at £793; on June 29, 1921, a parcel of 652 yards of serge, valued at £BS 5s 6d; on July 14, 1921, a case of canned pears, valued at £2 lis 6d; on June 00, 1921, 31 pairs of white blankets and 10 rugs, valued at £125 6s 6d; on June 22, 1921, one case of matches, valued at £lO 18s 6d; and on June 15, 1921, a package of dress material, valued at £5 10s.

Robert J as. Foreman', wharf representative of the Shaw Saville and Albion Co., stated that a case of crepe material was missed from among cargo landed on Queen's wharf by the s-s. Mahana. The material was part of a consign.iieut to George Fowlds. Pcrcival E. Batkin, employed by the firm of George Fowlds, stated that the shirting (produced) was like that ordered by his Arm from Manchester in July last year. When the shipment arrived one case was found to be missing.

Further evidence of goods being missed from Auckland consignments was given by Stanley James Davis, claims clerk of the U.S.S. Company.

Detective Fitzgibbons gave dcUuls of the arrest of Campion at his house at Grey Lynn. There he found two and ahalf pairs of white blankets, which Campion admitted were part of a bale ol blankets stolen from the wharf on June 30. The detectives found concealed in a tick 108 dozen pairs of silk hose, which Gampton admitted had been stolen from the wharves. Campion also nanded over other goods, which he said had been stolen from the wharves, including rugs, 22 yards ol serge, 56 packets of matches, and some crepe. After his arrest, Gampton made a statement admitting thefts from the wharves, which he signed. He had been employed by Frank Jagger and Co., whose motor van he drove.

Gampton had given the police every information and assistance.

Detective Gourley gave corroborative evidence.

Campton was then committed for sentence, bail being fixed at £4OO. The cases against Waters and Cummins were then proceeded with. Gampton, who was called, gave full details as to how the removal of the bales was carried out, with the connivance and assistance of the two other accused. The hearing was adjourned. PREVALENT AT WANGANUK AN UNFORTUNATE FIRM. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WANGANUI, "Wednesday. Cargo pilfering is still much in evidence here. Oncfcof Wanganui's largest drapery firms appears to be especially unfortunate, as several of their hit' shipments on arriva! show heavy losses. Yesterday a case of expensive hosiery was opened up, and it was found that only 3 J dozen packages remained out of 19 dozen charged up. How the goods were extricated is a mystery. It is quite clear that the packages were not only deftly taken out of the case, but that the thieves were not in any way hurried over their operation. All (Inns report that pillaging is becoming very serious indeed.