EPISODE ON STEAMER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 14

EPISODE ON STEAMER.

CHIEF OFFICER ASSAULTED.

TWO FIREMEN IMPRISONED

[by telegraph.—press association.] NAPIER, Tuesday.

Two firemen on the steamer Mahana, Phillip Dwyer and William Lambert, were charged beforo Mr. A. M. Mowlom, S.M., this morning with assaulting the chief officer on board the ship at Wellington on January 29 and with using obscene language. Dwyer pleaded guilty and Lambert not guilty. Richard Edmund Thompson, chief officer, gave evidence that the offences were committed 011 deck when he was summoned on January 29 to intervene in a fight between the ship's carpenter and Dwyer and Lambert. The last named struck witness and broke his nose. Dwyer struck him from behind. Accused were taken to the polico station in Wellington but were allowed to rejoin tho ship on condition that they pleaded guilty on tho ship's arrival at Napier. Corroborative evidence was heard.

Lambert denied that he struck Thompson, while Dwyer denied striking the chief officer frOm behind.

Tho magistrate sentenced Dwyer to two months' imprisonment on tho assault charge and fined him £3, in default one month's imprisonment, on tho second charge. Tho magistrate was satisfied that Lambert's guilt had been proved and sentenced him to one month's imprisonment. •