CUTTING TUG ROPES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11948, 19 May 1933, Page 5

CUTTING TUG ROPES

ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO CAST VESSEL ADRIFT WATERFRONT STRIKE INCIDENT. FIREMAN COMMUTED FOR TRIAL :Pr&>* Association.; - WELLINGTON, May IS An incident/ which occurred on the ■waterfront during the recent shipping -•.strike was recalled; in the Police '(hurt to-day, when Spencer Leo IParsloe, So,, a fireman, was charged with attempting to cast adrift the tug Natalie., and assaulting a nightwa tollman. 'The accused pleaded not guilty and was committedl to the Supremo Court for trial, bail being renewed. Robert Rankin, a nightwatchman for the Union Company, said . that on, May G at about 6 p.m. ho was oil duty on the wharves. The Trirawhiti was moored at the wharf and the Natouo at the breastwork, lying fairly close together. At G.lo while ho was on the elkek !o f the Tcrawlriti, ho saw a man walk to the stern of the vessel. The man came up to. him asking, him if the linos were secure. On being told that they were, the man said: “You would he the first to inform the Union Company if anything happened.” After a few seconds he walked away iri ijho direction df the ferry wlxarf. At about 7 p.m., saidi the wifcutess, his attention was drawn to the jinglfing of a chain, and he saw a man on the wharf loaning over the ropes at the bow of the Natone. “I went round to investigate”, said tho witness. “As I approached, the man got up and walked, toward the dbnkeyroom. I then - noticed . a man ovjeF the stern - lines of The Natone. j On walking down toward, him I saw \ Vim cutting the lines with a poeket'hnife. He made toward me and w e had a tussle. Then the accused camo up and interfered!;One of the men punched' me on the jaw.” The witness said that when he shouted; for assistance the men ran away, calling : “Bring the gang along. When outside tho wharf gates called out that they would Know him in the daylight. .•; • .-. i 1 V Constable- McGlyn, who ,answeied the nightwatchman’s call-for aid, said the accused was pointed dut-tohumby Rankin Tlio constable, desentod - BSgl Parsloo, wlio be was, Win- fol!oaa/a..TO.on tte K oused went toward a.group near Ao Eost Office, witnoßS necosted tom toolc lwm to tho wharf police ***,-. Thoicooßtahle said the accused domed being near the weasel. iße-sa d Stew drinkVanchthat the constehte was ■ taking advantage • of.- this. ness considered that the accused w* by .no means drunk.