Row on a Steamer.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7946, 9 October 1905, Page 2

Row on a Steamer.

Kdward Klliott Hayes was- charged al I lip Police CVurl, lliiiiLiiin. on lucsdny morning, that being a scainuii. lawfully engaged at sea on Hie s.«. Rukaia, whilst on the high seas he did unlawfully assault the second mate on .Sept. 18. Accused pleaded guilty. The (acts, as staled, were that the steamer was on her wa y from Capetown to htinedin, and about nmlnijjht the second mate had occasion to go forward 1o give orders about the taking in of sairl and I lie accused knocked the officer down, and struck liini while he was on the deck. The second officer gave evidence that when he went forward the men were swearing, and he told them to slop, and before Ire knew he was on the deck, anil the accused was striking him while he was down. Accused : That's-a lie. You came along and saw we could not get. it in; it took charge of us, and you stood with your hands in your pockets, and swore and growled at us. Witness : Jt ►vas you men who were swearing. Accused : Ami then you came anA stood in front of me as; if yon were going to plug ■me. and 1 plugged you instead. Voir rushed over to a pin, but found out it was a fixture, and afterwards I struck you again, and down you went. Continuing his statement, accused said that he had been punished by having) Po sValnd e/n the fo'tvcalstje head for two hours in the rain. The captain of the Kakuia gave evidence that he bad never bad anything ajcainsl the accused before. There appeared to have'been not the slightest justiliral ion for the assault. Some of'the nvn were bv no means good sailors, and the difficulty .with the sail was entirely owing to this. The Magistrate said that discipline must be upheld, and more especially on tlv. higjii sijvs. Accused would fie convicted' and sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labour.