ACCIDENT ON A STEAMER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 7

ACCIDENT ON A STEAMER

SEQUEL IN POLICE COURT

CHARGE OF ASSAULT FAILS

Tim sequel to an accident which occurred ou Tuesday night on a steamer in iport was the appearance before Mr. W. tj. liiddell, S.AI., at the Magistrate's <-ourt yesterday of a fireman named James Day, who was charged with having assaulted John Stevens, another firenian ,011 llio saiuo vessel, so as to cause him actual bodily harm. After hearing tlio evidence, His Worship dismissed the ffaso. At the suggestion of the Magistrate, Mr. 11. I'. O'Leary appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Inspector Alursack prosecuted for the police. It appeared from . the eyideneo that the firemen wore spending a merry evening after several of them had enjoyed a convivial afternoon 011 shoro, whcii suddenly a grating, weighing about GOlb., which accused was holding, fell through a hatchway upon tho heads of several of the gathering below. Stevens received a <leop cut 011 the head, and had to bo conveyed to the Hospital, while another man named .Tolion Brown was also hurt. . .J®' l " Brown, a fireman on the vessel, fitated that on Tuesday afternoon ha ■Kent ashore lyith several others of the ' cmr • retllrne <l 011 board about 6.30 P-™- . " lc y were all under tho influence ot drink. The crew's quarters wore below the upper deck, and when Ihoy reunned. the jollification was proceeded .Villi. Wliilo the proceedings were 111 a hatchway struck witness-sud-denly. Stevens was also struck by the Mine object, which fell upon witness. Both witness and Stevens were taken to the Hospital. To Mr. O'Leary: There were no rows during the afternoon and 110 quarrel between tho inembers of tho crew. As far as he knew i'£ro was no reason why accused should have douo witness or Stevens liny harm. Alfretl Hawkins, a trimmer, stated that on .luesday ho was on watch from i to 8 p.m. Alter eight bells, he was preparing to go ashore, when lie saw accused lifting a hatch grating. Accused lost Jus grip, und tha grating fell through tho hatchway on to the heads of the fnen below. Cross-examined by Mr. O'Leary, witness said that the men were "skylarking" in their quarters at the time the hatch grating fell. Thomas Deely, a trimmer, said lie came off duty about S p.m., awl went to tlio firemen's quarters to dress to go ashore. Some men threw water down the grating on tho men below, and Day then went up on deck. When witnfeS3 went on. deck ho saw Hay standing over the hatchway, holding a grating iti his hands. Two other men took hold of Hay and tried to pull him away from the open hatchway. Day immediately Jet go of the grating with one hand, and the weight, being too heavy for him to support with the other, tho grating foil from his grasp. . . To Mr. O'Leary: Tho fall of the grating was quite accidental. | Ldward White, a fireman, gave siinl Jar evidence to the previous witness Witness shouted at Day, and as soon a he did so tho grating slipped from ac cuseds hand. "Both Day and I wen drunk," added witness. 1 George S. Kennedy, chief officer of tin vessel, gave evidence that about. 9 • p.m he went to tlio firemen's quarters, when he saw the two injured men. The weighi of the grating was about COlb., and tin distanco it fell was about 20ft. Accusec bad bad, a good many drinks, but wa; sober enough to know what he was do ing. Witness was asked by accused whether the injured men would receive pro. per attention. Frederick T. Matthews, chief eugineei of the steamer, stated that he could not get any explanation from the men as Ic what had happened. Accused was very abusivo to witness, but at 9 o'clock yesterday morning accused went to witness's quarters and apologised for his behaviour of tho previous evening. Witness charged him with having dropped ihe grating down the hatchway, and accused Replied that he did not know whether he had dropped it or not. Accused was a good workman, and had a good character, and witness did not think the occurrence was tho result of enmity. The members of the crew appeared to agreo very well. The accident was probably the result of foolhardiness, accuscd not Knowing wha.t he was. doing. Inspector Marsack said that the Hospital authorities had reported that unless anything unforeseen happened. Stevens ought to >9 discharged from the institution in, a fortnight's time. Mr. O'Leary submitted that the aceused ought to be discharged, as the evidence was not sufficient upon which to conrict. .LW 3 51, orsh iP Paill filmed to him that although the accused had acted ■very rashly, he considered that 110 jury would convict. Tho accused was discharged.