FRACAS ON SHIP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21150, 19 July 1943, Page 6

FRACAS ON SHIP

OFFICER FINED PISTOL BRANDISHED A fracas on board a ship at Lyttelton, in which a loaded pistol was brandished, had its sequel in the Magistrate's Court in Lyttelton. Dewey Vincer Hamrick, chief officer, who was charged that, without lawful and sufficient cause, he presented a loaded firearm at Martin John Taplan, was fined £5. Taplan, chiet steward, who was charged with assaulting Hamrick, was fined £l.

Hamrick, who pleaded not guilty, appeared with his face badly knocked about, and he had difficulty in entering the dock on account ot eye injuries. Taplan, described by the police as a professional boxer, also pleaded not guilty.

Giving evidence on his own behalf, Hamrick said that he had given an order which everyone but Taplan had obeyed and Taplan had then assaulted him. Hamrick went and got his pistol in order to hand Taplan oyer to the police. He said that he did not point the gun at Taplan intentionally.

The master ot the ship said that Hamrick had told him that Taplan had caused his injuries. Hamrick was under the influence of liquor. Constable Brewer gave evidence ot arresting Hamrick, and said that after some persuasion he had managed to get the gun from him. Taplan said that he was attacked by somebody while he was standing on the deck. He found that it was the chief officer who had attacked him, and he fended him oft with one hand and hit him with the other. He did not know why Hamrick had attacked him. Later Hamrick had returned and threatened him with a pistol. ___________