RIOT ON A SHIP

Evening Star, Issue 16987, 8 March 1919, Page 4

RIOT ON A SHIP

I The men who took part in the riot on the Finnish four-masted barque Roweua at. Newcastle on January 8 appeared before Mr Butler, S.M., at the Newcastle Police Court the following day. Cluristittn Wilhehn Gronlund (24), seaman, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Mr J. D. Reid appeared for the prosecution. Defendant was lined £l, with £1 Is professional costs, or seven days. Ivor Johansson, mate of the Rowcna, said that after the vessel was taken from the wharf on her way to the mooring buoy three of the men struck him about the face and body, bringing blood from his mouth and one car. He ran aft to his room, and locked the door, which was shortly afterwards forced in. Two others caught him by the throat, and hit him in the faco. He got away from thorn, and ran up the rigging, followed by Blomander and Euglund, the latter having a knife in his hand. He got up to the orosstrecs of the main mast, and when the police launch came alongside slipped down ' the backstays. The vessel came from Now York, ;u:cl was 132 days on the voyage. The defendants had "been drinking. Constable Voysey said he saw flic mate ' climbing the rigging, followed by three men. j To Mr Torpey: Defendants said "the mate j was a Kaiser, and they were not going to I have German rule on the ship. . Wahlros and England gave evidence deny- | ing the assaults. Thr fc v said.the mate was! abusive. They both said they were dnmk ' and could not remember what happened. I For assaulting Johansson, one of the ac- ! cused was fined £3, with £1 Is costs, or a. I month, and the others £2, with £1 Is costs, I or a month. For assaulting, four of the I men were each fined £3, or six we»ks. The ' fines were not paid, ;uid the driVudani s ! wore taken to Mail land Gaol. At the expiration of their terms they will be deported as prohibited immigrants. I