SEAMAN FINED FOR ASSAULT

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28016, 10 July 1956, Page 3

SEAMAN FINED FOR ASSAULT

ATTACK ON WOMAN FOUND ON SHIP (New Zealand Press Association) NAPIER, July 9. A seaman on the motor-vessel Runic, John Edward Bowers, aged 22, pleaded guilty before Mr W. M. Harlow, S.M., in the Napier Magistrate’s Court today to a charge of assaulting a 19-year-old girl on board the vessel at Napier early last Saturday morning. He was convicted and fined £lO. Senior-Detective A. Reid said that a young woman, had been on board the Runic for some days and associating with crew members. About 1 a.m. on Saturday, the accused went to his cabin and found it was locked. He forced the door open and found a crew mate inside, with the woman. The accused, who had been drinking, threw the man into the passage-way, and then assaulted the woman, punching her twice on the face and then kicking her while she was lying on the floor. The woman was then removed from the ship, and was found by a constable later in Emerson street. She was taken to the Napier Public Hospital, where she was still a patient. “This is another example of the evils of young women being allowed on board overseas vessels,” said the Magistrate. “I have been informed that the girl is not as seriously injured as was at first thought. Even so, you deserve a term of imprisonment.” Fining Bowers, the Magistrate warned him to keep away from liquor.