ASSAULTING A COOK

Evening Star, Issue 14511, 1 November 1910, Page 5

ASSAULTING A COOK

Some amusing features attended thohoaring of an assault case by Messrs D. A. De Mails and J. Watson., J.P fi, at tho Pout Chalmers Court this forenoop. Robert Rugby and R. Atkin, two firemen on the steamer Kaikoura, were charged with assail ting Fredrick Phillips, the second cook of that vessel, last Saturday night. Phillips deposed that ho was in bed at 11.30 p.m. on Saturday, when the two accrjsod came to hia cabin, each of them carrying a large dish of ‘‘hash which had been served out to the crew that evening for “tea.” Tho contents of the dishes were thrown on the bed. “The bed and roe were both smothered with cold meat, cold potatoes, and hash,” said the second cook in concluding his description, of how tho firemen assaulted him with cold victuals.” Atkim pleaded not guilty, saying he knew nothing about the matter until he was told of it on recovering from his Saturday night’s indulgence in “four-half.” Bugby denied point blank that he had anything to do with the assault, and called the storekeeper as a witness. The storekeeper swore that Bugby was continuously in his room for several hours, and up to 12.30 on tho night in question. Atkin then called a witness on his behalf. This witness said he saw two men go to the door of Phillips’s room and throw two “kids” of hash over him. Witness did not know who the two men were.—Tho Bench to Atkin: “ Tins witness does not seem to help you much.” — “He did not seo me do it, sir,” replied Atkin in defence of bin witness. It ■ was incidentally shown that this throwing of tho food on the bed in which the cook reposed would have been deemed an adequate means of expressing disapproval of the cook’s culinary skill. The cooking of the food for the crew, it was fiercely stated, would not appeal to tho appetite of a hungry dog, unless hunger outweighed caution, in which case the deg’s indiscretion would bo followed by a painful sickness. While tho Bench were considering the evidence submitted in respect to the assault a man in fireman's apparel, walked boldly forward from the rear of the court. Despite cries of “ Silence ” from the court orderly, tho intruder announced in the loud tones of tho men who follows the sea : “I am the man that threw the hash ; Bugby is innocent” The intruder was put on oath. Ho told how he and tho accused Atkin threw the hash on the second cook. Cooks and sea-cooking were referred to in forcible but not favorable terms.

The charge against Bugby was dismissed. Atkin was convicted and fined 20s, in dc. fault four days’ imprisonment.