POHERUA DESERTERS

Southland Times, Issue 18815, 7 May 1920, Page 2

POHERUA DESERTERS

CHARGE OF HARBOURING.

A CONVICTION RECORDED.

Carl Hansen, who was interned during th# war and was recently released, appeared before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday morning, charged with that on March 19, he did persuade Jules Berg and William Cotton to desert from the British ship Poherua, which was then in port at Bluff. He was further charged with wilfully harbouring Berg and Cotton, having reason to believe that they had deserted. ‘ Mr M. Macalister appeared for the accused who pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Inspector Fouhy prosecuted, and in outlining the case stated that the ship arrived at Bluff on the night of March 18. On the following day Berg and Cotton were seen, about the street together. Later on Hansen took his launch alongside the coal boat lying against the Poherua, and the two seamen dropped on to it and were taken to Stewart Island, where they were arrested by Constable Do ale. Cotton was at present serving a month for desertion. Mungo Hutton, Customs Officer at Bluff, stated that he saw Captain Chadwick and his chief officer meet the two seamen in the street in front of his office. Hansen was with the seamen and moved a few paces away, while the Captain talked to the men, apparently advising them to go on board. Constable Wroblenski stated that he had a conversation with Hansen, who informed him that he had been on board the Poherua on the morning of March 19. Hansen also said Berg had said something to him about going fishing, but did not say that he was going to be paid off. Afterwards he met Berg on shore and Berg stated that he had given notice to leave the ship. Hansen told witness that he had asked Berg to go with him and he bad taken his launch alongside the ship and conveyed Berg and Cotton to Stewart Island. Hansen said that he did not know whether Cotton had been paid off. Cotton, one of the seamen, also gave evidence, and said that he and Berg had deserted the ship on March 19 and had been taken to Stewart Island by the accused. They were drunk when they were ashore, a|id he did not have much idea of what happened, except that Hansen took them away in the launch. Mr Macalister for the defence contended that the evidence had not disclosed anything to show that Hansen had persuaded the men to desert. Berg was a personal friend of the accused, and had previously been a fisherman at Stewart Island. He and Cotton had decided to go there on their own account and not as the result of any influence exerted by Hansen. Berg also knew that Hansen had a launch at the port, and had requested him to take them over to the Island. Hansen knew that Berg had been paid off, but did not know anything about Cotton, and as he was a friend of Berg’s he did not ask. They had left the Poherua in daylight, while she was discharging coal and had made no attempt to conceal their actions. Inspector Fouhy asked for a substantial penalty on the grounds that the Union Steam Shib Company had been caused a great deal of inconvenience and loss. The fact that the men left in broad daylight only emphasised the high-handedness of the action. The Magistrate said that while "Hansen mjght have had some excuse for assisting Berg, who was his friend, there was no doubt that he was guilty of harbouring Cotton. On the charge of harbouring Cotton he would be convicted and fined £lO, with costs amounting to 19s. The charge of harbouring Berg would be dismissed. Inspector Fouhy stated that as a conviction had been secured in regard to the charge of harbouring, the two charges of persuading the men to desert would be withdrawn.