PIRATES AND SPIRITS

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16817, 8 June 1926, Page 9

PIRATES AND SPIRITS

JUDGE WITHOLDS DOCUMENTS. Mr R. F. Roxburgh, on behalf of Schooners Associated, Ltd., and Thomas Godman, moved in the London Courts that Soames, Edwards, and Jones (solicitors), and Archibald Pollock Black Wallet be ordered to deliver up books and documents in the possession of Messrs Soames. Mr Roxburgh said Mr Wallet was at one time an agent or director of Schooners, but he had ceased to have any connection with that company. Mr Godman was the only director in this country of the company. Mr Wallet obtained possession of all the books and documents of the company and handed them over to Messrs Soames, who were the solicitors for the Times Publishing Company in a libel action by Mr Godman against the Times. It was apparent that the books and documents would be of some use to the Times in that action.

Mr Justice Astbury said he observed that Mr Godman was a retired lieutenant-commander.

Mr Roxburgh said the alleged libel was that Godman insured a cargo and then pirated it with a view to defrauding the underwriters.

.Mr Justice Astbury Do you mean he scuttled the ship? Mr Roxburgh: No, that he boarded it witli men armed with revolvers and incarcerated the crew and officers and other: people, including officers of the United Stales Navy. We say nothing, in fact, happenid at all. .Mr Archer, K.C., for Messrs Soames, read an affidavit by .Mr Soames, who slated that Schooners Associated, Ltd., had a share capital of £IOO, and only two persons subscribed for ttie shares, of which Mr Godman held SO and a German named Lerbs 20. The Times alleged conspiracy by Mr Godman to defraud the underwriters by arranging the piracy of a cargo of spirits shipped from Bremen for sale in the United States.

.Mr Justice Astbury: Arc the armed pirates supposed to be United States police'.' Mr Archer: No; people hired by Godman for the job. Mr Justice Aslbury said that if the particulars of justification given in Ihe libel action wen; accurate Godman had been guilty of outrageous frauds in connection with Ins own business as a ship-owner anil that of Schooners Associated, Ltd.

in ilie circumstances, lie thought the best thins would be, until further order, Lo ask .Messrs Soames, Edwards, and .limes lo retain possession of such books as lliey had belonging lo Schooners, they giving an undertaking Ihat, the books should he open to inspection. It the documents were handed over to anybody connected with Godman there "might he a grave risk of their destruction.