TROUBLE ON THE OTAKI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18234, 30 October 1922, Page 5

TROUBLE ON THE OTAKI.

STRIKING OF OFFICERS. THEEE MEN SENTENCED. ONE MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT., As the result of avfracas on the steamer Otaki at the Queen's Wharf on Friday evening, three charges of assault were laid against members of the ship's company at the Police Court on Saturday, before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M. A quartermaster on the vessel, Walter Percivsil Ilatten, aged 26, was charged with having assaulted the second: steward, Albert Morton. Accused pleaded guilty . and had nothing to say in answer to the charge. Clhief-Detective- Mcllveney- said that accused returned to the Otaki at about six o'clock under the influence of liquor. He was looking, for a. fight, and I assaulted Morton without provocation, striking him on the few and rendering . him unconscious. The injured man- was attended to by T the doctor and taken to;., v the hospital, where he remained uncon- •, -' scious for some time. Although hia.jaw - . ..._ was very sore, he was able to appear ir Court. i.

Accused was sentenced to on© month'fl imprisonment, expenses, £2 S», to be deducted from his wage*. A fireman, Joseph Sutton, aged 17, pleaded not guilty to haying assaulted Herbdrt Mortimer Williams, chief officer of the Otaki. The chief officer said he ■was on the gangway endeavouring to quell a disturbance, in which accused was mixed up. Accused! was fighting, and he struck witness severely, breaking hia nose. There was. no provocation at .all-. ;-• Accused said -he; had. had a. fev? drinks,/ and he had just come i>n board when i|». got a smash oh the noise, and he knew" nothing else till ho found himself afe ;-h«; police station. The magistrate, said' jth.*, affair" was tho outcome of drink, $aks; sentenced accused ' to' one month's -iffi-' prisonment, accused to bo placed on::tfei». vessel before she leaves New Zealand.,; ■ :;♦ Th third charge of assault waa against a trimmer, Michael Gallagher, aged w years. William Cyril. Moffatt,. sixth r«s gineer, said he was going down the ship's" gangway at 6.10 p.m., and'there'"Wfia'ist,'. large crowd of men, All. more or-.lesi drunk, at the foot of the gangway*. Accused impeded his progress and; "*s-" | ness asked ;binx to get out of th« 'w&sr« Gallagher then struck him on the moutn, splitting his Up. Accused, who aaid,h*- ; could not remember . anythingoo r ;tbe ; affair, was sentenced to one month's fia,-; prisonment,. and -ordered to be put aboard the vessel at: the et»&term. •".■'"•".V" -For having damaged a pig pen on- liie' Otaki, a trimmer, Andrew ' ■ 33 years, was. ordered to pay Sa d^otages, '. and 10s cosjis. ~; . //" ; <>SV ;.£'"■" ZTZ '":''"''"