MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2994, 30 October 1882, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

TIMAEU—THIS DAY. (Before H. Belfield, and H. J. LeCren, Esq.’s) DRUNKENNESS, William Barrie was charged with being drunk while in charge of a horse. Sergeant Cullen deposed that accused was driving about the Main Road when drunk. He was fined 10s, A first offender charged with being drunk at the Railway station, was dismissed with a caution. Peter Smith, an old offender with twelve convictions against him, was charged with drunkenness, and sentenced to 14 days imprisonment with hard labor. DISOBEDIENCE AND ASSAULT ON BOARD SHIP. Andrew Glansen, Andrew Johansen; and Stephen Ansen, were charged on remand, with disobeying the lawful commands of Captain Ludwigs of the .barque G-erd Heye. There was a further charge against them of assaulting the first officer. The charge of theft having been withdrawn by the Captain. Inspector Broham conducted the prosecution and called,

Captain Ladwigs, of the Gerd Heyo, who stated that on the morning of Thursday last, the men asked him for steaks and potatoes, and said unless these were granted they would not work. He refused these, but promised them more beef. They then refused work during that day. He then went ashore and complained to the police. He also engaged men in place of those who had refused doty. They still said, if they had no steaks they would not work. Clansen and Ansen turned-to next morning till breakfast time. After that, Clansen again came forward, and said they would knock off, which they did. They also assaulted the mate. He gave the regulation rations; and also offered them more. They all got l|lbs of; fresh meat daily, after they had complained.

The accused could not be made to understand the mode of cross-examining, but stated by their spokesman, Clansen,

that they c uld not wrk cargo on bread and coffee ; and that, though they had asked civilly, nothing was given them. They were too hungry to work, (The Captain here read the regulations as to rations, which were :—lib beef per man per diem, lib butter per week, and as much bread as they chose.) The accused admitted that they got these things as agreed upon by them in signing the articles. The second mate of the Gerd Heyo corroborated the evidence of the Captain, as to what took place over the alleged scarcity of provisions. He was then cross-examined by each of tho accused, but owing to their imperfect English, and a difficulty in getting them to ask questions instead of making excited statements, not much could be elicited.

An ordinary seaman of the barque also gave evidence of the disturbance, but bis testimony failed to clear up the doubt as to which—the chief mate or the seaman Clausen— struck the first blow.

The defence, - stated generally, was that tho men were insufficiently • fed, an 1 over worked, and that the mate had struck them when they made civil complaints. There appeared to have been a sort of confused scramble between the accused and the mate, no particular violence having been done. . The Bench said they considered the disobedience fully proved, but the assault did not appear to have been serious. They therefore sentenced as follows : All three to 7 days’ inprisonment witli hard labor for disobeying orders. Andrew Clansen and Stephen Ansen to 21 days each for assault.

The prisoners left the Court saluting their captain with “ So long, captain.”