ALLEGED GROSS CRUELTY ON BOARD SHIP.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1239, 4 January 1883, Page 2

ALLEGED GROSS CRUELTY ON BOARD SHIP.

At the Liverpool Police Court, before Mr Raffles, stipendiary magistrate, a short time since, John Robinson, captain of the barque Arabia, and Henry Porter, the second mate, were charged with wounding and causing grievous bodily to Robert Johnson, an able seaman on board the vessel. It was stated that the Arabia is a British ship, belonging to Bt. John; N. 8., and left that port on the 24th August, bound for Liverpool. On th* 25th August an order wts given for all hands to come on deck, and this was obeyed. Prosecutor, an elderly man, was the last to come out, and Porter struck him a heavy blow in the face, which knocked him down. This, it was alleged, was the initiation of a systematic course of cruelty on the part of both the prisoners. The captain, who was standing by, encouraged the mate, and the latter kicked the unfortunate man on the head as he lay on the deck, causing blood to flow in large quantities, the deck of the vessel, as well as a portion of the cargo, being still stained with the blood upon arrival at Liverpool. The prosecutor was very feeble after this treatment, and went below, but the next day he came up again and attempted to do his work. The second mate it wss alleged, kicked him in the abdomen because of the slowness with which he performed his duties; and the captain, while he was at the wheel, struck him a heavy blow in the eye, finding fault with his steering. On a subsequent occasion the prisoner was lashed in the rigging by the second mate. It was alleged that the unfortunate man was ill-treated either by the captain or the second mate nearly every day the voyage lasted; and the result of the treatment he received was that his wounds were constantly bleeding, and he lost a great quantity blood, being so much injured, in fact, that his brain became affected and still remained so. The evidence for the prosecution was not concluded when the case was adjourned. At the hearing on the Monday following, after the evidence of several members of the crew had been taken, the prisoners were remanded for seven days. Tbe captain, Robinson, was then charged with a similar oflenoe on a man of colour named John Thomas, who officiated as cook and steward on board the Arabia. Evidence was given by Thomas, and corroborated by others, that during the voyage he was frequently struck by the captain, and on one occasion his lip was cut by a blow. At another time the captain knocked him down in tbe store-room, and after kicking him the prisoner got hold of the top of a door and jumped upon him. His ribs were very muoh hurt. A medical man stated that one of Thomas's floating ribs on the right side was broken. Prisoner was committed for trial at tbe assizes.