THREE MEN FINED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 100, 30 April 1945, Page 6

THREE MEN FINED

Three firemen, members of the crew of an overseas vessel, were charged in the Magistrate's Court today, before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., with assaulting the captain and the third officer, on the ship on Saturday afternoon. They pleaded not guilty, but after the hearing of evidence the . Magistrate held that a technical assault had been committed. They were each fined £2 and costs on the charge relating to the captain and convicted and discharged on the other.

The accused, Sydney Arthur Langley, 30, George Pym, 35, and Jack Granville Smith, 22, were represented by Mr. G. Joseph. Evidence was given by the captain and the first, second, and third officers that the accused, under the influence of liquor, had wanted to see the captain, and had become abusive. They had complained* about the food and about a shortagein the number of firemen in the crew. It was stated that the officers had to protect the captain, to prevent him being struck.

Two-of the accused, Pym and Lang-ley,.-gave evidence and denied that any blows were struck. They admitted using bad language, but claimed that the officers had used some too. Mr. Joseph submitted that there was no evidence of an assault, but the Magistrate held that a technical assault had been committed.