A BRIEF HONEYMOON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 17 August 1907, Page 4

A BRIEF HONEYMOON.

DOUBLE DESERTION OIIARGIi. Dramatic elements were io be found ill the adventures of two yiuths named Robert Slamer and Joseph Robertson, who appeared before the Court at Melbourne a few days ago. Slamer and Kii!>tTt-i>ii are two of the crew of 11.M.5. Powerful. They extended their leave of absence during the warship's visit to Melbourne three weeks ago, and married two girls in the interval. A tragedy supervened, with their appearance in 1 lie City Court, where the sergeant of marines, armed with a warrant for their arrest as deserters, and hacked up by a naval escort, demanded their return. The young husbands, after a fortnight's expedience of matrimony, were 'taken from their wives and escorted to Sydney by the 5 o'clock train.

-Mr Harnett, who defended the two sailors, contended that the court had 110 jurisdiction in the matter. Sergeant Thorpe, of 11.M.5. Powerful, >aid that he had been sent from Sydney with an escort to bring the men back U, the warship. Mr Barnett: The difficulty is that my clients arc between the devil and the deep sea. They have been married. (Laughter). They are charged with deserting their ship, and if they go back .10 their ship they may lie charged with deserting their wives. (Renewed laugh- | tor).

Mr C'resswell: We have nothing to do with that. We have simply to hand them over to the naval authorities. Mr Barnett: Their wives are anxious to keep them. What is a sailor's duty? (Laughter). The men are willing to return to the ship, but there are the wives to consider. At any rate, they should be allowed to get their dinner together, and the wives are quite willing to enter- . tain the sergeant and the escort.