ARREST OF THE ASSAILANT.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 215, 12 September 1888, Page 5

ARREST OF THE ASSAILANT.

■' Melbourne, this day. On the arrival of the steamship Hauroto from New Zealand, one of the crew named Vernon was arrested by the police on the charge of attempting lo drown Captain McDonald, harbourmaster at the Bluff. The arrest was made on telegraphic information sent here from New Zealand.

The "Otagb Daily Times" of Sept. 7th says :—lt is stated that Vernon, one of the quarter-masters of the s.s. Haitroto, made a dastardly attempt to throw Captain ! M'Donald, harbourmaster at the Bluff, overboard early yesterday morning. The harbourmaster had arranged to haul 'the Hauroto off the wharf at 3 a.m. to enable her to get away early, and on going aboard found nobody about. He therefore had to call the mate, who asked if nobody was at the gangway. * Being answered in the negative, the mate reprimanded Vernon for neglecting his duty. Tho harbourmaster then went ashore to ease the hawßer, and while doing so heard someone coming behind him, but thought it was one of the harbour staff. The next moment he was caught by .the legs and thrown against a pile, cutting his forehead. But for having hold of a rope he must have gone overboard, and would perhaps have been drowned, as a strong ebb tide was running and the night was very dark. The harbourmaster, being a powerful got the mastery after a severe struggle, and gave his assailant a sound thrashing. Vernon was lot go so as not to detain the HauJotb.