GANGWAY GUARD'S NEGLECT OF DUTY.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1918, Page 1

GANGWAY GUARD'S NEGLECT OF DUTY.

SIX MONTHS’ LMPBISONAIENT. WELLINGTON, Alnrch 25

111 the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Air. >S.- F. M’Cartby. S.M., two serious charges were preferred against a young man named William Dunn, fiuartermaster of an oversea vessel. "Mr. P. S. lv. Alacassy, of the Crown Law office, appeared to prosecute. Dunn was charged that on recent dates, at Timarn and Lyttelton, being a person stationed as a guard at the gangway of an oversea vessel in possession of the Crown, he left the vessel when lie should have remained on guard. Air. Alacassy, in opening. stated that the steamer in question was , a transport bringing out troops from England. At Timarn the accused was placed 011 guard by the chief officer, his hours of watch being from (5 p.into midnight. He absented him self I’romthe vessel, and when lie returned some hours later he was drunk. At Lyttelton -lie again left the watch, and on returning he absolutely refused to resume duty. At Wellington, also he failed to carry out his duties in a proper manner. The breach of duty, counsel said, was very serious, as it was important, that all oversea vessels should be properly guarded, and under the circumstances he asked that a substantial penalty lie imposed. Evidence was. given in support, of counsel’s statement bv the captain and chief officer of the-vessel. According to tlic chief officer, the accused had stated that he was tired of tin; ship, and desired to got out of it. The Magistrate said that it was not an ordinary ease of failing to do duty. It was most important that gangways of oversea vessels should be properly protected in order that undesirable characters should he kept off these ships. The accused had flatly refused to carry out his duty.

A sentence of six months’ imprisonment was imposed in respect to the first charge, and accused was convicted and discharged on the second.