RUNAWAY SAILORS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1919, Page 7

RUNAWAY SAILORS.

ALLEGED ILL-TREATMENT BY CAPTAIN.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr., A. Crooke, S.M., Frank Bradshaw and C. Sandstoom were charged with, on March 3, deserting from the American barquentine "Thrasher" while she was at the breakwater, New Flymonth.

Mr. ft. 11. Quilliam appeared on behalf of the commander of the vessel and Mr. A. H. Johnstone represented the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Mr. Quilliam said the charges were laid under Section 344 of the Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1908, the provisions of which applied to ships of the United States of America.

Captain Townsliend, master of the Thrasher, said the vessel was registered in U.S.A., and the ship's articles were put in, containing the names of the two accused, whom he identified. He said the men deserted at about 10 minutes to two on the night of March 3, and iiad been absent ever since. They were sailors. To Mr. Johnstone: Both men were ordinary seamen. He had had the Thrasher about two years and had made three trips to New Zealand. Each time he had had a new crew. The mate of the ship was a son of witness, who declined to answer as to how long his son had been to sea. Mr. Johnstone said he did not intend to proceed until the question was answered. Witness persisted in his refusal and counsel submitted that the Benoh could therefore draw its own conclusions.

Proceeding, Mr. Johnstone asked how many men there were in the crew when they left America and witness replied 12 altogether, eight of whom were sailors. Witness did not know how many of the sailors had been to sea before. Under some pressure he admitted that six of the sailors were inexperienced. He did not inquire before .leaving'port 33 to their qualifications, and did not know why he made no inquiry. He found after putting to sen that some of the sailors had had no experience. He would not say that Bradshaw was one of them. If he knew nothing lie did mighty well for a "green sailor." Witness denied using physical violence to the members of the crew on the trip out. On the previous visit to New Plymouth two of his erew deserted. This time the whole crew, except one member, had deserted. He did not know whether he had been fined on any previous occasion for knocking his crew about.

Mr. Johnstone said in view of the evidence he asked to be allowed to alter the plea to one of guilty. His object ip pleading not guilty was to have the captain put in the hnx, and the Bench could judge from the manner of his giving evidence as to how he put to sea and treated the men while on the voyage. Counsel pointed out that before the war ;he Thrasher was laid up, but on account of the shortage of shipping had been re-commissioned. Captain Townshend was getting up 111 years and probably more familiar with seamanship in the days of the marling-spike and the ropes-end. He had left San Francisco hurriedly, as if the Union there had known he was sailing with a erew of men who had not been to sea before ihey could have stopped him. Apparently the men were treated all right for a few days, but later the captain became abusive and some of the men wer» flogged. That was the story of the men themselves. The American Consul had held an inquiry into the allegations, but it was significant that before the result was made known that seven men of the crew deserted, and five of them were still away, and he did not think they would be caught if they could avoid it. Mr. Johnstone said he hesitated to put the accused in the witness box, but if the other five deserters were brought before the Court he would place the whole facto before the Bench in evidence, He admitted the men were technically guilty of leaving the ship, but said they were prepared to go to gaol for the full term under the Act rather than go back to the ship. Counsel pointed out that the Magistrate was not obliged to make an order now for the men to be placed on board the ship that could be deferred until the vessel was ready to sail if the master had not been able to secure sufficient men for a crow.

Mr. Quilliam said it was common knowledge that masters of trading ships during the war period had had great difficulty in getting crews, and it was not to be wondered at that some men were engaged who knew very little about the sea. The accused were not the ordinary class of men engaged. They liar! been knocking around San Francisco nnd the fact remained that- they joined the ship voluntarily, and made tolerably good Bailors. In reference to the inouiry as to the captain's treatment of the men the charges fizzled out and the men then bolted. Some argument ensued as to the term of imprisonment that should be imposed. Mr. Ouilliafti stated that the Thrasher expected to be ready to sail in about a fortnight. Mr. Johnstone, pointed out that the maximum term for a first offence under the Act was 12 weeks, and, suggested that irt the'meantime 110 order he made an to pbicfi«? the men on board the ship. Mr. Quilliam contended thnt it was usual to make the order ;if the time of iin nop in 7 th'e sentence. The Magistrate sentenced j}oC)ised to four weeks' imprisonment with hard Injior, reserving to himself, the -right to make any order as to the men being placed on the ship, at any time during i the currency of the term of imprison l ment.