OFFICERS ASSAULTED ON THE HIGH SEAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 226, 13 December 1927, Page 1

OFFICERS ASSAULTED ON THE HIGH SEAS

TWO SEAMEN CHARGED FRACAS ON PORT CURTIS Press Association NAPIER, Monday. As a result ot incidents that occurred on the Port Curtis immediately after her departure from New Plymouth, two members of the crew appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Harold Lowe was charged with assaulting David Jones by throwing him to the deck, and Frederick Hesse was charged with the same offence and also with assaulting Robert Gibson Thurwell, the chief engineer, by striking him in the face. Each of the alleged oSences was committed on the high seas. Mr. H. B. Lusk, who conducted the prosecution, said Hesse refused to go aboard the ship at New Plymouth when it was ready to sail, although he was on the wharf. It was decided to put to 3 ea without him and several others who had also refused to go aboard, but he went aboard as the ship was leaving the wharf. Just as the ship was clearing the harbour Hesse had approached Mr. Thurwell, the chief engineer, and without any provocation, had struck him in the face with his jst. About ten minutes later Hesse and the other defendant, Lowe, attacked the fifth engineer, David Jones, and knocked him to the deck when he ordered them to their work. Captain Enwright, master of the Port Curtis, said considerable difficulty was experienced in leaving New Plymouth owing to several members of the crew having refused to board the ship When they clambered on board, he put to sea.

Hesse went into the box and Eatly denied that he had ever struck the chief engineer. The Magistrate: Of course, these men must be convicted. That is obvious. But the question is what to do with them. I want to help the captain of the ship, but I do not want and I certainly do not feel justified in burdening the- Dominion with two such undesirable subjects. I feel that they most certainly come within the category of undesirable immigrants. If you could find out what share of the responsibility the company is prepared to take in seeing that they are returned to England, it would make my decision easier. Mr. Lusk: I think that could be arranged. The magistrate remanded the defendant in custody until to-morrow morning when he will deliver judgment '