RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4376, 12 January 1883, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY

(Before Messrs Tizard & Murray, J.P.'c.)

CIVIC SIDE. BEDWOOD V. BETTIS

This was au action to recover £10, a month's wages for acting as mate on board the steamer Waitoa.

£6 13s 4i was paid into Court

Mr Miller appeared for tbe plaintiff, flnd brought;.; evidence .tosshew that his client had shipped on the Ist December last at the rate df £10 per month, and on the 20th of the same month, when the vessel was hauling off from ..the wliarf, he had a hold on one of the lines; he found it was too short, so he let it i-o. The defendant, in consequence, said to him, " You are drunk. You had better go ashore." Plaintiff replied, " All right, put me ashore.' » ■-• The defence was that defendaut had asked plaintiff to stand by; the lines, which he had done as well ag lie could considering his condition. One or two of his orders were . unattended to. The plaintiff was drunk. When the captain of : the boat asked him why he did not haul on a rope, as instructed, the reply was that he was not going to his/ .(adjective) fingers for him."' The captain- ■ told the plaintiff he was drunk, and Redwop<! requested.to be put asliore. i j $yhen returning from the trip, the defendant "went to Redwood's house r and asked him what he was going to do? Did he intend going back to work ? He replied " No," he had left./

Witnesses were called who stated that tßedwood admitted to them, that he had left ihe vessel; that the plaintiff .was unsteady on board on the morning in question ; and Mrs Redwood said that her "husband had been drinking when he reached home about 1 o'clock 01 the 20th. He had left the steamer about 11 that day. She said that Capt. Bettis had called at her house on the following day and had asked Redwood to go back but he had refused to do so.

The plaintiff called evidence to rebut that given as to his insobriety. Two witnesses said he was sober and another that he was not drunk.

The Bench came to the cpn'c'lusion that plaintiff we snot sober on the morniug in question, and referred to the serious danger that 'existed in vessels carrying passengers putting to sea with intoxicated officers on board. r Judgment was given for the defendant.