ASSAULT ON HIGH SEAS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21908, 8 October 1936, Page 9

ASSAULT ON HIGH SEAS

OFFICER CHASED BY QUARTERMASTER

HATCHET HURLED THROUGH WINDOW

A story of assault on the high seas when a seaman chased an officer into the captain’s quarters with a hatchet was told in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., when the seaman, > James Lundy, a quartermaster on the R.M.S. Remirera, pleaded not guilty. The charge was that he assaulted the third officer, Harold Hill, on the high seas between Wellington and Lyttelton cm the ing of October 5. He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour. , . - The Remuera left Wellington at 5 p.m. on October 5, and at 8 p.m. Hill took charge of the ship. Lundy was due to take over the wheel at the same hour, but he arrived 10 minutes late. Hill was anxious to take a bearing on Cape Campbell, but found that there was something wrong with the steering. A few minutes later he sent for another seaman as reliei, but Lundy refused to leave the wheel. He had been drinking at Wellington, and on the ship after sailing. Some time later he was seen with a dangerous instrument following the third officer, who ran for the captain’s quarters. He had just reached shelter v. hen the hatchet hurtled through the window, smashing the Venetian blind. Hill gave evidence that at 8.10 p.m. the quartermaster going off duty reported the course, and witness then suspected that something was wrong, as it was important that the men should be punctual. He saw Lundy at the wheel, and knew that he hao had liquor during the first dog-watch. Witness then sent for another to relieve Lundy, who claimed that he was quite capable of steering the ship. “I said he was not, and in the meantime the ship was going off the course,” said Hill. “I had to put my arms about his waist, seize his wrists, and drag him from the wheel, with the ship going off the course all the time. I pushed him to the side of the bridge, and he started abusing me, and struck at me wildly. It was then that I struck him, and the captain came ordered him off the bridge. Officer Boshes Seaman “Five minutes later I saw him coming with what I thought was a hammer in his hand. I ran for the captain’s quarters, so that if anything happened it would be in the captain s presence. I had just got into the captain’s room when the window crashed. I did not see what did it, as it was then very dark. I tried to get into the captain’s day room, but found I could not, and Lundy was commg at me. I rushed hm and grabbed him by the throat and wrist.” The captain then arrived, and Lundy was locked up in the ship’s hospital. Captain Frederick William Robinson, master of the ship, said that Lundy was under the influence of liquor, although not rolling about. His conduct had been generally very good. Albert Lichfield, the quartermaster from whom Lundy took over, said the shin was on its course when he was relieved.

Constable C. A. Jackways, Lyttelton, said Lundy told him he had had a few glasses of wine earlier in the evening.

“When I was relieved the third officer said the ship was off her course," raid accused. “I said I was trying to get it back.” Hill pushed him off the bridge, said Lundy, and he tLundy) then went to the galley and found the hatchet which was used as a coal hammer. He intended to do no great harm. “No officer is allowed to come and pull me away from the wheel like a dog.” Lundy said to Sub-Inspector MrcLean.

Lundy was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hand labour, and ordered to be placed on a ship at the end of that period.