"£100 TO SINK STEAMER."

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 19

"£IOO TO SINK STEAMER."

CAPTAIN ACCUSED BY ENGINEER. The startling suggestion that Captain I Johnson, master of the steamer Borre, 'offered the chief engineer £100 to sink the vessel was lnve-tlgal?d at a Board ot Trade inquiry in Liverpool recently. The Eorre, which was formerly a yacht owned by Lord Eeresford, came into tne hands of a Birkenhead firm for £3730. and was used as a collier. She was Insured for £"000 on the bull and £1250 on the freight. While on a Journey to Ireland the vessel foundered. The crew were rescued after being in the water some hours. Leonard Maddock, the chief engineer, gave evidence that Captain Johnson., when the ship was at Barrow, came to him In the engine-room. i "He asked mc what I thought of the ship, and I said «he was all right. "She Is :aK wrong,' said Captain Johnson. 'We are j losing a lot of money on this ahlp. I wish I had back the £180 which Is my Interest In her.' "Then he said: 'You have been out ot work some time, chief; is £100 any use to yon? According to your letters you are anxious to get back to Birkenhead. Ii yon ! are game to sink the ship, there Is £100 | ready for you: £10 when we leave LlverI pool and the rest when you have done the Job. This is by consent of the owner, and lon your arrival at Liverpool I will give you |an Introduction to him.' " I Captain Leach, principal officer to the Board of Tade, said that Leonard Maddock made a. statement at the Board of Trade offlcea. Witness pointed out the great I gravity of the charge, and when Maddock I said he could not produce witnesses he advised him to withdraw it. He did this because he wanted to protect the man against a libel action by the shipowners. The Inquiry waa adjourned.