A BRIEF HONEYMOON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 24 August 1907, Page 4

A BRIEF HONEYMOON.

Dramatic elements were to le found in the adventures of two 3 r ouths named Albert Slaraer and Joseph Robertson, who appeared before the Court at Melbourne a few days ago. Slamer Bud Robertson are two of the crew of the cruiser Powerful.' They extended their leave of absence during the warship’s visit to Melbourne three weeks ago, and married two girls in the interval. A tragedy supervened, with their appearance in the City Court, where the sergeant of marines, armed with a warrant for their arrest as deserters, and backed up by a naval escort, demanded their return. The young husbands, after a fortnight’s experience of matrimony were taken from their wives and escorted to Sydney by the 5 o’clock train. Mr Barnett, who defended the two sailors, contended that the Court had no jurisdiction in the matter. Sergeant Thorpe, of H.M.S. Powerful, said that he had been sent from Sydney with an escort to bring the men back to the warship. Mr Barnett; The difficulty is that my clients are between the devil and the deep sea. They have been married. (Daughter). They are charged with deserting their ship, and if they go back to their ship they may be charged with deserting their wives. (Renewed laughter). MrCresswell: We have nothing to do with that. We have only to hand them over to the naval authorities. Mr Barnett: Their wives are anxious to keep them here. What is a sailor’s duty? (Laughter). The men are willing to return to the ship, but there are their wives to consider. At any rate, they should be allowed to get their dinner together, and the wives are quite willing to entertain the sergeant and escort. Sergeant Thorpe (decisively): I don’t want to go. (Laughter). I ask that the men be detained till the train goes. The sailors were handed over to the navaUescort.