TWO MONTHS' GAOL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 8, 10 January 1941, Page 8

TWO MONTHS' GAOL

MISSED HIS SHIP

SENIOR RADIO OFFICER

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AUCKLAND, January 9,

For deserting his ship, a British vessel engaged in overseas '■ ade, a senior radio officer, John Joseph. Amos, aged 39, Avas sentenced in the Magistrate'? Court today to two months' imprison ment. He had pleaded guilty.

The police said that Amos reported to the agents of the vessel arid also to the police that he had missed his ship

Mr. R. Henson, representing the agents, who prosecuted, said that Amos was absent Avithout leave at Napier, but rejoined Mie ship in Auckland. He was on board on December 31, but not when the ship sailed next day. After a delay of an hour for a search, the naval authorities allowed the ship to sail Avith a junior radio officer on board. It Avas a serious case as a continuous radio watch had to be maintained.

Amos told the Magistrate that originally his ship was scheduled to proceed to Australia, but the plans were changed and, realising that he Avould not see his Avife, he was terribly disappointed and went on the drink at Napier. When he rejoined the ship at Auckland ie was quite all right, but on New Year's Eve tAvo friends from another ship came on board and persuaded him to go ashore for dinner. He did not remember any more till the ship had sailed. He had been at sea since 1917 and nothing ol the kind had happened before. He realised the seriousness of his action, but he had no desire to desert his ship.

The Magistrate. Mr. Levien: You are an able-bodied man with all your mpntal faculties about you. Your absence may mean the loss of many lives because the ship had to sail without a man of. your experience on board. You are sentenced to two months' imprisonment.