A QUARRELSOME CAPTAIN, OR THE BITER BIT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2345, 22 September 1880, Page 2

A QUARRELSOME CAPTAIN, OR THE BITER BIT.

— [By Tklkguapii.] CiiiusrcHancir, Sept. 21. This morning a seaman on board the John Knox was charged with assaulting Captain Davis, master of the barque. It appeared that the prisoner had asked for money to get hoots with, and on refusal struck the captain with a saucepan, and kicked him violently in a struggle which followed. The captain’s statement was supported by several -witnesses. For the defence, it was slated that the captain assumed a very threatening attitude towards accused when he asked for money to get his boots, and accused, thinking be was going to be assaulted, lifted a saucepan, but did not strike with it, but threw it over the captain’s head, and then closed with him. He had never had any trouble with any of the olilcers of the vessel, and was goaded to the act by the manner of the captain. Accused showed the Bench his boots, which were quite unlit to go to sea -with. The Bench were satisllcd that an assault had been committed, and a serious one. They remarked, however, that Captain Davis had acted wrongly in not giving the man money to get boots, or an order to get them especially as there was money due to him. There was no doubt, from the number of times he had brought men before the Court, that Captain Davis quarrelled with bis men to a very great extent, and gave them considerable provocation to break the huv, which was much to bo regretted. Accused was sentenced to fourteen days’ hard labor,

his wages to be paid and his clothes sent ashore. The master applied to take the man aboard, as he was going to sea, but the Bench refused.