EXTRAORDINARY SCANDAL.
EVENTFUL CRUISE OP THE FANNY THObNTON, At Koeburne, Western Australia, on 4th October, a caße of aesault was heard against Captain Cle7erley. of the Fanny Qhornton, which disclosed the existence of a cnriona state of thinga on board that vessel. The FanDy Thornton was bound for Fremantle from Auckland, bat on the way ebe picked up the crew of the Florida, wrecked oil Browse Island. Captain Cleverley, it appeared, was living m the same house at Auckland as the boatswain of the Fanny Thornton and his wife. Improper relations, it is alleged, existed between the Captain and the boatswain's wife on the voyage, despite the former remonstrating. Previous to the shipwrecked crew comiDg on board it was alleged Captain Cleverley gave his cabin to the boatswain's wife, and also occupied it himself. The boatswain was ordered by the captain to clean up the cabin and to perform menial offices. It was alleged m evidence that the captain threatened repeatedly to blow the boatswain's brains out. The Jatter determined to have his wife and went to the captain and demanded her. Tbc demand was refueed, and the boatswain was then shoved by Cleverley, and a scuflle ensued benweon them. The captain then went into bje cabin', got a life preserver, and hit tb* man twice on the back of the head. He was raising the life preserver for another blow, which would m probability have killed the boatswain, but be wan prevented by his
own mate and the captain of the Florida, who threw him on the deck. The evidence also went to prove the disgraceful conduct ofJCleverley and the woman, who had two children on board, who were badly treated, and one of them died ftfe Cossack on 3rd October. The captain of the Florida was charged with assaulting Cleverley, bat the case completely broke down. Cleverley was sentenoed to two months' imprisonment. He is an old man, apparently over 60 years of age. All the Bhipwreoked c ew, as well as those of the Fanny Thornton, strongly disapproved of Cleverley'e conduct, and all refused tr> sign the offioial log, m the captain's favour.
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Bibliographic details
Marlborough Express, Volume XXIII, Issue 227, 27 October 1887, Page 3
Word Count
356EXTRAORDINARY SCANDAL. Marlborough Express, Volume XXIII, Issue 227, 27 October 1887, Page 3
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