MANSLAUGHTER AT SEA

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 92, 12 January 1935, Page 18

MANSLAUGHTER AT SEA

Jail for Veteran Skipper

Known in North of England fishing ports as “The King-Fisher,” a 72-year-old master mariner, witli 42 years’ experience of trawling in the North Sea, was lately led out of the dock at Durham to undergo a sentence of six mouths’ imprisonment in the second division for the manslaughter of three men on the high seas. The old sea-dog, William Melton, of .Tynemouth, had for years held an untarnished ticket as a skilful and resourceful skipper, and it was whispered in seafaring circles that he could “sense” or “smell” where good fish could be caught, and that in this respect he towered over all his rivals. On the morning of August 11 Melton was making what was intended to be his last voyage but one as a fisherman. His vessel, the Consolation, when about a mile from the pier at North Shields, ran down a converted motorlifeboat which six men were using for fishing purposes. The boat was riding at anchor at the time of the collision, aud as a result of the impact three of the men were drowned. They were:—Alfred Otto, aged 42, married; George Simmonds, aged 25, single; and Joseph Morgan, aged 40, married. It was the circumstances under which these men met their death that led to Melton beipg placed in the dock. The case against the old skipper, as outlined by prosecuting counsel, and supported by a number of witnesses, including survivors of the wreck, was that the collision was due to “grossly criminal aud reckless navigation.” It was also alleged that Melton was under the influence of drink at the time, and that his speech was thick, his breath smelled strongly of drink, aud that he did not appear to understand what he was talking about Counsel explained that at the time of the collision there was no other craft about to interfere with the navigation of the trawler; that the visibility was perfect; and that it never occurred to the occupants of the motor-boat that the trawler would not change its course before reaching them. What did happen was vividly described to the Court by Robert Robertson, one of the survivors. “We had put down a couple qf anchors,” he stated, “ and we noticed the trawler leave the pier for sea. She would be about a mile away when we first saw her, and we took no notice of the vessel until some time later we saw that she was heading for us at a ‘good speed,’ and was only about 50 yards away.”

Robertson described how five of them jumped on to the cabin roof and began waving their caps and shouting,

in the hope of attracting the attention of the man at the wheel of the oncoming trawler. “I could see the figure of a man at the wheel.” continued Robertson, “but the trawler did not alter its course but came right on to us. It was then ever man for himself, and the men on the roof of the cabin jumped into the well of the boat at the same time as the trawler hit is amidships.” Robertson explained that he scrambled aboard the trawler and made straight for the wheel-house, where he found Melton. “I pleaded with him,” he went on, “to stop and rescue the men, but he gave no indication that he had heard me. He seemed to be intoxicated. I could make nothing of him, aud so I went and signalled to a pilot cutter, which was about a mile away, to come to our assistance. One of the trawler crew jumped into the sea and tried to rescue a man but could not reach him.” Several members of the trawler crew gave evidence. All testified to Melton’s abilities as a seaman, and Gavin Litidores, the-third hand, expressed the opinion that he was not drunk as alleged at the time of the collision.

A River Tyne police officer, who saw Melton after the trawler’s return to port following the collision, stated that Melton had to be assisted out of the vessel into the police launch. In his opinion Melton was drunk. Giving his own version of the tragedy, Melton declared that before leaving port with the trawler he had on'y had three glasses of beer. “That is not enough to make anyone drunk,” he added. “When we got out to sea the smoke caused by our getting up steam was baffling me a bit. I was about 3(1 wards away when I first saw the motorboat.

“I heard the men on it shouting out and I brought, the trawler full speed astern. I did my best to avoid the collision. It was the smoke which prevented me from seeing the boat. That’s all there is t,o say.” After a short retirement the jury returned a verdict, of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of Melton’s age. The medical officer at Durham Gaol stated that Melton was a man in a state of senility with a hazy and defective memory. He was also dull and stupid, and unable to concentrate. His sight, too, was failing. In witness’ opinion he was too old for the post of a master mariner. The Judge, in passing sentence, remarked that Melton by his gross negligence had killed three men, an act which no doubt he would feel very deeply for the remainer of his life.