GREEKS V. AN AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13226, 11 July 1906, Page 6

GREEKS V. AN AUSTRALIAN.

THE MELEE' ON THE S.S. DEVON. Joskph Brady, the brawny young fireman of the .steamer Devon, who had a fight; with several Greek sailors on tbo vessel at Melbourne the other day, was presented,at the City Court the following morning 4on a. charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Andrew Heracles, one of tho Greeks. Brady, who gave his age as 23, presented a somewhat battered appearance, ami had his head swathed in bandages. . i"

Co/is table Tracey applied for a remand, for a week, because Heraoles was being treated ill the hospital, and would not bo able, to give evidence for several days.. • Brady objected. He said he might leso his ship, which was to leave that day. . The fourth officer of the Devon, Henry Cloke, said that on the Thursday evening ho heard someone shouting:, "The Greeks are fighting! They have knives!" He went on deck, and Heracles said to him, " I want to see the captain. I will fight that man (Brady). I will kill him or he will kill me.": Witness then saw Brady strike a man and knock him on the deck. A tall Greek then rushed at Brady and hit him twice, on the' head with a big- stick, whereupon Brady turned round and knocked the big fellow down. " A third Greek was holding up the head of one of his fallen countrymen, and Brady hit him and knocked him' into the scuppers. Sub-Inspector Armstrong said the evidence the police had gathered went to show that one of the Greeks threw down two knives ami challenged Brady to fight with them. Brady declined to Use a knife, but set to work with his fists. r Mr. Pantou: Then lie was defending himself? . . ■ i Sub-Inspector Armstrong: Yes. William Muller, a. greaser on the Devon, got into the box and held up his hand. "Do,you affirm instead of swearing an oath?" asked the bench clerk. "No; a greaser," said the, witness. His version of the fight was that Brady and a mate,were going up the fo'o'.sle ladder to go ashore when a Greek with a long weapon in his hand rushed up, shouting, "By dam, I'll give "him the fight!" The Greek followed Brady and; hit him on the head with it. Brady fell, but quickly got up, and, turning round, knocked the Greek down, using his fists. Two more Greeks then ran at Brady, who knocked them down, and they then rail away forward. Sub-Inspector Armstrong: I will ask you to discharge Brady, sir. Mr. Panton: That's right. Prisoner discharged.