AN ASSAULT CASE.
POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS. At the ‘Magistrate’s Court yesterday before A. Crooke Esq., S.M., Hans Carlson, an A. 13. on board the s.s. Ngahcrc, was charged with having assaulted (he cook of the vessel, Max Conrad, by. (Catching him round , the throat when in the alley way leading to the forecastle.
Mr. Joyce appeared for the cook, who gave evidence that he had served; breakfast for the men in the messroom at 7.20 a.m. the day previous and that shortly after eight as he was in front of his own room in the alley; way accused came up to him and asked him if he was going to serve up any more of the Auckland meat which he said was rotten. The cook replied that it was not rotten and some words followed in which accused applied a very offensive name to him and subsequently gripped him by the throat nearly choking him. Accused i then let go and witness went to his I own room. Subsequently when the cook and steward were sitting down to their breakfast accused came to the door of the mess room and asked if he was going to serve any more of the meat for dinner, and witness said be should do as be liked, whereupon accused repeated the annoying language. In cross-examination by the accused, be said be had been on the Ngahere under Captain Dilner before, but only about six weeks this time. They had a rough trip from the North Cape. Witness did not say he would cook the meat for dinner but would not satisfy accused. He denied that he said he would cook it whether it was rotten or not. Witness never lifted his hand to accused in the alloy way, but he admitted that he had used some impolite language to him because lie was the only man on board who made complaints. Witness referred him to the captain or steward if he had any complaints to make. He had not been able to get any meat from shore in time for breakfast and denied that the Auckland meat was bad. He had never had any trouble on board the Poherua when be was cooking on her. Thomas Healing, steward, said he was having his breakfast in the mess room with the cook when accused and two or three other hands came to the door and said something about the meat being bad and asked the cook if he was going to serve it for cknnqr. He heard accused call the cook an improper name, but he did not see the assault.
The accused gave evidence, .stating that the chops and steak they had for breakfast were bad and he spoke to the cook about it as lie could not eat it and he told him not -to cook it for dinner. The cook made a very offensive remark and looked as il he was raising his hand to hit him. This was in the alley way and he had to go to his bunk to get his palm and needle as he had orders to mend some canvas and always kept the palm and needle ready for use. The cook said he was going to cook the meat whether it was rotten or not for dinner and witness merely put ids hand to his throat and pushed him on one side from him and remarked that if he had not been an old man he would have struck him for .using such language to him. The cook asked him to come to the galley to see the meat- if it were rotten. So he and four of the hands wont to the moss room door and fold the steward they were going to the captain about it. The steward said the captain was not on hoard so they returned to their
work. The men agreed with him that the meat was not fit to eat. To Mr. Joyce. —He could not account for Hie marks on the ' cook’s neck as he had only ]mshed him. He denied having called him a micro than once. Had acted on his .own, account all through. lie did not understand the meaning of a sea -p.w. ; (ou pct[ oyp *• peqi.iosop si; .io.\au
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