The Archive · 1923

The Missing Suits

Charge Against American Sailor Dismissed

Charges of theft of three pairs of B.V.D.'s from the slop chest of the str. Montague against Harry Hanlin, were dismissed at the U. S. Court for China on Thursday afternoon by Judge Lobingier. George Keller, the ship's steward who had charge of the general stores and slop chest, stated that" he had been ill for three days before the theft had been discovered, and that when he returned fo the store room, he found the lower half of the door had either been forced or had been carelessly left ajar. There were missing some 24 articles of men's wear, including 12 suits of B.V.D.'s, and in addition some cigarettes, the total value being G.$55. He searched the crew's quarters and found tivo suits unused, lying on a service bench.

The next witness was Captain Johnson, the ship's master. He said that accused had been called into his cabin and there was found a size 40 on his body. A suit sold to one Wilson, a seaman, bore the same serial number as that found on defendant. The underwear had been bought in a wholesale house in Portland, Oregon.

The defendant in the box stated that he had joined the ship in

Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.

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