PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1297, 7 October 1876, Page 5

PORT CHALMERS.

Tuesday, 26th September. (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq., E.M.) Breach ok the Merchant Shipping Act. — William Glennie, articled seaman belonging to the ship Invercargill, was charged with having, on 29th July, assaulted Captain Muir, of that vessel, whilst on a voyage between Glasgow and Dunedin. William Pollock, boatswain of the same ship, was charged with having, on the same day, assaulted Mr Moffatt, the chief officer. • Both men pleaded Guilty. Mr Joyce i conducted the prosecution. The evidence of Captain Muir, Mr Moffatt, and Dr Hamilton, the Surgeon - Superintendent of the ship, was taken, wherefrom it appeared that on Saturday evening, July 29th, Mr Moffatt, the chief officer, observed the boatswain talking to some of the single girl? at the break of the poop. The two defendants had been performeis at a concert held earlier in the evening. The chief officer ordered the boatswain forward, and was met by a refusal, whereupon, after some words had passed, the former threatened to put the boatswain in irons. The latter then turned to go forward, and attempted to take an iron belaying pin out of the rail, upon which Mr Moffat, suspecting mischief, seized him, and the boatswain seized him in return and struck him. Observing the assault, the second mate ran below and told the Captain, who at once rushed on deck and seized the boatswain, and proceeded to take him off to iron him. Upon this, the other defendant, Glennio, struck iv, and seizing the Captain by the neck-cloth, tried to choke him, swearing the while ho would do ho unless the Captain released the boatswain,

After a minute or two of struggling, the Captain got clear of Glennio, and succeeded m putting the boatswain in irons. He then returned on deck and arrested and ironed Glennie. The reat of the crew then came aft in a body and vowed they would do no more work until the two men were released. In reply to the defendant Pollock, the chief officer said that he had behaved well before and after the disturbance. In reply to the Bench, the defendant G-lennie said he had no def tnce to offer; whilst Pollock stated, as an excuse for his conduct, that the passengers had given him something to drink, and that it was under its influence he acted as he did. He was sure the liquor must have been very bad for so little to have taken such effect upon him. He hoped the Magistrate would deal leniently with him, and consider his previous and subsequent good conduct. His Worship replied that he should certainly do so, and especially the remarks he had made in his defence. As for tha other defendant, the man did not seem to take any notice of his position. The case against both prisoners was a very serious one, inasmuch that their conduct had plunged the ship into a state of open mutiny, a very grave condition of affairs indeed in an immigrant vessel. Glennia would be sentenced to twelve weeks' imprisonment, with hard labour, and Pollock to half that term. Breach of the Merchant Shipping Act.— • John Porter, articled seaman belonging to tha ship Invercargill, was charged by her master, Captain Muir, with having combined, with others, to wilfully disobey lawful commands. He pleaded guilty for himself, but had nothing to say about others. The ca&e arose out of the circumstances described in the preceding cases. The evidence of Captain Muir, corroborated by that of Dr Hamilton, showed thai on tha morning of July 30th, the Captain called all hands aft, and asiced who was going to turn to to work, and who was not ; all those who were willing to work were to walk past. AH hands did not walk past, and those stopping asked whether the two men in irons would be released. The Captain replied that that was his business ; he should do as lie thought proper in the mat Lor. Upon this tho defendant Poster stepped forward and vowed he would do no more work, and was willing to join the men in irons. It was understood that the othera of the crew promised to back him up. However, no one else moved, and Porter was taken below and confined with the other two. Thq three were released at the expiration of fortyeight hours. His Worship observed that it was fortunate for the defendant that those with whom he had combined were not arraigned, as in that case a severe punishment would have been inflicted. As the case stood, defendant would be sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment with hard labour. Breach of Tcwn and Country Poltck Ordinance.— Jehn Oochrane failed to appear on summons to answer the charge preferred by Constables Jones and Livingstone of permitting two horses to stray on the public highway. Ha was fined 20a, and costs. Unneighbourly Conduct. — James BairJ and his wife Marion, settlers at Blueskin, were charged by Mr Fitzgerald, publican, of Blueskin, with having used threatening and abusive language towards him. Mr Hay appeared for the complainants, and Mr Joyce for the defendants. Voluminous evidence was taken,' from which it appeared that the parties in the case were neighbours, and frequently quarrelled. The last outbreak was occasioned by the complainant trespassing, as was alleged, on the defendant's land in the pursuit of a bud he wished to shoot. High words ensued, and abuse was interchanged, both parties affirming that the ,other commenced first. Counsel for the defence raised an objection, which Hia Worship held good, adding that it appeared to him that both sides ( were equally to blame, and if a case or the kind in which they were implicated came before him again, he should bind them both over to keep the peace. Larceny. — George Anderson, a Bettler residing on the Main North Road, was charged with having stolen a bag of clothing about May 31st last. Mr Joyce appeared for the defence. The facts of the case, as stated by the prosecution, are as follown : — On the above date, James North, a bottler at Blucakin, engaged Joseph Holland, another sattler of the same district, to convey a quantity of timber and other loading, including two bags of clothing, from Dunedin to his place at Blueskin. In due course Holland started from Dunedin with his loading, and, on arrival at the 10th mile-post, unharnessed for the night, placing the waggon a littJe off the road. Next morning ha resumed his journey, and on arriving at Blueskin discovered that one of the bags was missing. Subsequently North sued him in the Port Chalmers Court for L 7 14s, the value of the hag and its contents, and obtained judgment. About the 18th inst. something came to the knowledge of Holland which induced him to suspect that tho bag had been stolen, and he applied for and procured a search warrant at the Port Chalmers Court, and, armed with that outhority, proceeded to search the houses of Anderson, the defendant, and his father in-law (Cochrane), and in Anderson's house found the greater part of the missing clothing. Anrlerson was then arrested and released on bail, Lhe hearing of the charge against him fixed for a certain date. — This concluded tho case for the prosecution, and as Mr Joyce announced that lie had several witnesses to examine for the defence, His Worship decided to adjourn the further hearing of the case to Thursday next, tho defendant's bail to be extended.