AFFRAY AMONG STEWARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 105, 4 May 1920, Page 9

AFFRAY AMONG STEWARDS.

THE BEMUEBA WCIDEWT. CONVICTED AND DISCHARGED. The case in which Frank Wheelright, a ship's steward, was accused of having committed an assault upon another stew- ; ard while the steamer Remucra wan on her way between Panama and Auckland, ; was heard before Mr. J. W. l'oynton, I S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yester- , day afternoon. Chief Detective McMahon conducted for the prosecution, and Mr. V. R. Meredith defended, his client pleading not guilty. Cli!irle3 Thomas Devonport, second steward on the Remuera, »aid that on . April 1-2 he entered the first-class saloon, | and sent for defendant, who was an assistant steward. Wlien Wheelright arrived, witness advised him not to shirk hie work, and go back on his mates. Aβ | a result of the admonition some words j followed, Wheelright denying that lie had ' shirked his work. As witness was leaving | the saloon defendant uttered an offensive epithet, whereupon witness returned and aimed a 'blow at Wheelrightj but it fell short, and defendant struck witness on the head with a bundle of knives he held in his hand. Wheelriprht afterwards declined an invitation to go outeide anil finish the dispute, and «o witness went away and had the wounds on his head dressed. Ho was laid up for five days. Under cross-examination Devonport denied that he was in the habit of assaulting the stewards under him, neither had he threatened to do for Wheelright. Another steward said he heard the argument. The pecond steward exclaimed, "What, you call mc a V and struck the accused. Wheelright was cleaning knives at the time, and appeared Ito be trying to defend himself with the knives in his hand. Accused's evidence "was to the effect ] that Devonport first struck him from ■behind, and got him jammed against the table. Witness endeavoured to defend himself the best way he could, and Devonport " ran into the knives'" in his hand. Cross-examined. 'Wheelright declared he had never shirked his dut)', and he had been with the vessel for two round trips. The Magistrate said the defendant might have been guilty of a technical assault, but there was certainly no intention in his action beyond self-defence. Devonport was evidently a man without tact, and did not seem to "be careful of his language in the saloon. Wheriright would be convicted and discharged.