BOY’S MIDNIGHT RAID.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2126, 11 May 1920, Page 4

BOY’S MIDNIGHT RAID.

How a boy terrorised the captain and mate of a .ship in their cabin at midnight and made them deliver food to him under the threat of a revolver, was told to the Fowey magistrate.

Thomas Buckley, a young Jersey seaman, was charged with stealing tins of provisions, valued at 275, from the Jersey brigantine Haravghi in Fowey harbour. Richard Owen, the elderly captain of the Haravghi, said (hat Buckley

served on the vessel for a few days in December, when he was paid off at Fowey, and .joined another ship. Various articles were afterwards missed from the Haravghi, and witness spoke to prisoner’s new captain about it. This led to disputes between them on shore.

Shortly after midnight, when witness and his mate were in bed, the former heard his name shouted by someone on deck.

Buckley entered the cabin, and, holding a pistol at the captain's head, said ‘‘Hands up!” and demanded pots of meat, jam, and other provisions.

These were given to him by the mate on the captain's instructions, and Buckley left, after warning them not to show themselves for half an hour.

Within that time he returned, and, again pointing the pistol at witness, ordered him to hand over £lO. Wit - ness replied that he had no cash., and the demand was reduced to cigarettes, of which also he had none.

Buckley then forced him to sit to the table, get paper and pen, and write what he dictated, or he would be a dead man. On Buckley’s instructions ho wrote an order for tins, of beef, milk, and oilier things, and staling that he gave the stores of bis own free will.

On another fin tier he agreed, at Buckley’s demand, to give him £5 for assisting in moving the ship. The provisions were given to Buckley by the male. Buckley further ordered that tea should be made for himself, flic captain and mate, Avhich was*<lone, mid he I lien left the ship. Continuing the captain's story, the mate said they were so frightened (hat they remained in the cabin until six o'clock on Sunday morning. The incident described occupied about an hour.

A police inspector slated that Buckley, in ans Aver to the charge, said he Aims drunk and knew nothing ah.ait the occurrence. The pistol Aviih which Buckley threatened Captain Gwen avus a toy Aveapon, Avhich he bought in Foavcv for Ifi Ui. Buckley avus committed for trial at the Cornwall Assizes.