THE GOTHIC CASE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 30

THE GOTHIC CASE.

Mr Martin, S.M;, sat in the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday afternoon to hear a case in which Captain W. H. Kidley, of the s.s. Gothic, was charged on an information with having omitted to give a true account of the health of the passengers and crew of the vessel, and that he omitted to state that George Dymott, one of the stewards, had been suffering from sickness ; and further, that he gave false answers to questions prescribed in the first schedule of the Public Health Act. Mr Gully appeared for the Crown, and Mr Skerrett for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. George Dymott, 'steward on the ss. Gothic during her last trip from Home, said he became ill some days before reaching Hobart, and was under the hands of Dr Pollock, the ship’s doctor. He first had a

bad cold, and small red spots appeared on his chest and arms. He had a sore throat, which was lanced by Dr Pollock. Two days after arriving in Wellington the flesh on his hands and body began to peel. He was under treatment in the hospital for about 18 days. Dr James, medical adviser to the Health Officer at Wellington, said that cm the arrival of the Gothic at Wellington h* asked the doctor if there had been any sickness on board during tho voyage, and he replied that there had been nothing infectious. The ship was then admitted to pratique in the usual way, and came alongside the wharf. On November 22, Dr Anson came to him in the Hospital and said a case of scarlatina had been admitted from the Gothic. He went with Dr Ewart to the fever ward and saw Dymott, who made a statement to him. He examined his throat and hands and came to the conclusion that it was a case of scarlatina. Witness then reported the matter to the Health Officer.

To Mr Skerrett: The fact that the man was subject to sore throat might easily throw anyone off his guard. Captain Johnson, Health Officer, stated that when he boarded the vessel he was told that all was well on board. Dr Ewart, Medical Superintendent at the Hospital, deposed that on examining Dymott he came to the conclusion that he had been suffering from scarlet fever. Dr Anson said he saw the man Dymott two days after his admission to the Hospital, and had no doubt he was then suffering from scarlatina. For the defence Mr Skerrett contended that what was required of the captain was a general report as to the health of the crew and passengers, but if there was a serious case of illness on board it should be rejrortjiJ, S? further urged that only

wilful contravention of the law was able under the statute, and, therefore, there was no reason why this should be considered an offence against the law. Dr J. R. Pollock deposed that Dymott complained of sore throat before the vessel reached Capetown. He was treated for sore throat, and at Capetown there was nothing wrong with him. Shortly afterwards he again complained of sore throat, and witness was in doubt whether his case was influenza or malaria, from which he had suffered previously. At Hobart his throat was lanced. About a day before reaching Hobart he saw a slight rash on the man’s body, which he attributed to the medicine lie had given him. There was no sign of skin peeling. . Up to the time Dymott left the ship he had quite decided that he was suffering from influenza, and tonsilitis, and he passed Dr James and the Health Officer during the inspection. The ship had since been disinfected. Dr W. D. Butcher, who was a passenger by the Gothic on the last voyage, said in his opinion the symptoms described by Dymott were consistent with a case of influenza. Captain Kidley said he had no intention of deceiving the Health Officer. The man was reported by the doctor as suffering from tonsilitis and influenza. By Mr Martin : He did not read the paper before signing it. Dr Pollock, recalled, in answer to Mr Martin, said he reported the man’s illness to the captain just before reaching Hobart, and reported him well before they got to Wellington. His Worship reserved his decision until Thursday morning.