CUT THE LINES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 11

CUT THE LINES.

INCIDENT ON WHARF. NIGHTWATCHMAN ASSAULTED SUSPECT SENT FOR TRIAL. (By Telegraph.—-Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. An incident which occurred on the waterfront during' the recent shipping trouble was recalled in the Police Court to-day, when Spencer Leo Pan>loe, a fireman, aged 33, was charged with attempting to cast adrift the tug Natone and assaulting a nightwatchman. Robert Rankin, a nightwatchman employed by the Union Company, said that on May 0, about 0 p.m., he was on duty on the wharves. The Terawliiti was moored at the tug wharf and the Natone at the breastwork, the boats lying fairly close together. At 6.15, while he was on the deck of the Terawhiti, he saw a man walk to the stern of the vessel. The man came up to him and asked him if the lines were secure. On being told they were the man said, "You would be the first to inform the Union Company if anything happened." After a few seconds he walked away in the direction of the ferry wharf. About 7 p.m., said witness, his attention was drawn to the jingling of a chain, and he saw a man on the wharf 'leaning over the ropes at the bow of the Natone. "I went round to investigate." witness continued. "As I approached the man got up and walked toward the donkeyrooni. I then noticed a man over the stern lines of the Natone. 0 n walking down toward him I saw him cutting the lines with a pocket knife. He mads towaid me and we had a tussle. Then accused came up and interfered. One of the men punched me on the jaw."

"Bring the Gang Along." Witness said that when he shouted for assistance, the men ran away, calling, "Bring the gang along." When outside the wharf gates they called out that they would know him in daylight.

Constable McGlyn, who answered the nightwatchman's call for aid, said that accused was pointed out to him by Rankin. The constable described following Parsloe, who wanted to know why he was being followed. When accused went toward a group, near the poet office witness accosted him and took him to the wharf police station. The constable said the accused denied being near the vessel. He said he had had a few drinks and that the constable was taking advantage of this. Witness considered that accused was by no means drunk.

Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was renewed.