BRUTAL OFFICER.

NZ Truth, Issue 84, 26 January 1907, Page 5

BRUTAL OFFICER.

Tin-Pot "Third" Fractures Seaman's Jaw* Savage Bullies at Sea.

The callous, brutal way m which officers of both steam and sailing vessels treat those under them is a disgrace to humanity and civilisation. No wonder the men desert, or refuse to turn to when, m addition to . abominable tucker only fit for swine to eat, and bad accommodation, they are cursed, and assaulted and looked upon as dogs by the bullies who boss them. Happily this sort of treatment isn't now so frequent as it was aforetime ; the day has gone by when bad-tempered tyrants on board ship kicked, cuffed, and even, shot sailors for trivial as well as serious offences ; that sort of thing isn't tolerated these times when a man is considered a man whether he is an officer or a stoker, or a greaser. This fact was brought home very forcibly to Peter Develin, third engineer of the steamer Matatua, down South "the other day. DeVelin (writer was nearly making it d'ftvil .in) -.., is C ra_ : „cocky .feshman; possess- 1 ed of an /excitable temperament, and his little trouble arose through being too deft with his dirty left. It was, a mighty blow, too, knocking James Winch, a greaser, SENSELESS INTO THE SCUPPERS. This occurred at Timaru, and Develin was mighty sorry when he found that be had broken the greaser's jaw, and, sent teeth flying promiscuously about his mouth; He sent the victim to a doctor and a dentist and footed the bill. Develin asked Winch to say nothing about the matter, and the chap promised that he wouldn't do -so. Then the Matatua steamed on to Lyttelton, where it was imperative that another doctor should be consulted. This medico ordered Winch to the Christchurch Hospital, and when being paid off he was pressed by the Shipping Master to tell how he came by his broken jaw. Then he told the truth- about the matter, and the police came on the scene.

Winch says he gave no provocation to his aggressor, but Develin avers that he. had occasion to speak to him about the running of the main . engines and Winch was insolent and used obscene language. Develin then pushed him away, and he fell m. the. scuppers. Winch, he states, admitted subsequently that he was to blame. The greaser was said to have impersonated the third engineer when ashore, but this was denied. However, Develin bad to appear at Court on a charge 'Of infliet>mg serious bodliy harm, an indictable offence. The defendant said he had occasion to speak twice to Winch about the dynamos, and on the last occasion, the man was insulting and threatening. All he (defendant) did was to push him aside, and he fell into the scuppers. There w?,s some corroborative evidence ' call-ad, and then the charge was reduced to one of common assault on the application of X-awyer Knight Hunt. • Develin. was jpned.^a tenner, (half to Po to Winch) and costs and other incidentals.: He will keep his hands off those under Mm m future, no doubt. Winch got married to a Port Chalmers girl when down South, arid immediately left her to go to England. Now he is paid off, and is walking about. Chtistchurch with a fractured upper piece. But that fiver will take him back to his little wife—assuming that she is little.