ANGRY SEAMEN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2300, 6 November 1914, Page 5

ANGRY SEAMEN

SIX SAILORS IN COURT. On Wednesday an assorted quartet of seamen off the ship Pakeha appeared in the Magistrate's Court and were re-, manded to the following day on a charge of absenting themselves without leave from that vessel. Yesterday they again appeared beforo tho Magistrate, their numbers reinforced by two men who were similarly charged. Their names when read over were: John Cooper, Frauk Cleverly, Robert Lancefield, John William Sides,. Lans Elefsen, _ and Jolines Johannsen. From the evidence of the officers and questioning by the men it was evident that they wore not exactly a, happy family on the Pakeha. The ohief officer requested the Magistrate to detain all the men until the departure of the ship from Wellington, and explained that the firemen on the vessel had caused a deal of trouble lately. This appeared to annoy the sextot in'the dock. i

"Did I cause any trouble, sir?" inquired one of the men of the officer. "Yes," replied the officer without hesitation. , "No, sir," came the contradiction. "Yes," said the officer. "No, sir, in black and white, no sir," replied the seaman vehemently. "What happened when we were down in Lyttelton ("'continued the seaman', becoming more excited every moment, "I. was lying sick in my bunk, and no one would go for a doctor. • You call yourselves men. You are not men—you're pigs." . ' "You are not doing yourself any good by that," interrupted thp Magistrate. "I know that, sir," replied the seaman.

The evidence was too strong against them, however, and each was ordered to forfeit a day's wages, pay costs 75., and bo detained in custody, till the ship sailed. The men looked sullen on bearing this, and one attempted to break out into protestation, but all were hustled out of tho dock without more ado. •