Saint And A Sinner

NZ Truth, Issue 998, 10 January 1925, Page 6

Saint And A Sinner

SEAMEN SQUABBLE ON SHORE

He is a bold man who, would assault a saint, but then there are saints a.nd saints. Joseph Hoare, because he perpetrated an assault on JV K. Saint, mate of the good ship Huia, found himself m dock at the Auckland Magistrate's Court the other day, a position he occupied ,with a gaily-decked left optic. He pleaded that he did not commit the offence with which he-was charged, m consequence of which Saint was called a"hd deposed that he had fallen fobl of Hoare while showing some friends over the gallant sailer which plies out and m from land. In the course of a scuffle aft Hoare attempted to masticate the thumb of the second m command, and, on that member being exhibited, the marks of molars could be easily discerned. Then, afterwards, when Saint was ashore with his friends, Hoare again assaulted him.

The mate brought evidence to support his story, and Hoare replied by giving his side of the tale 1 , which was to the effect that Saint had been endeavoring to "show off" m front of his "cobbers" and that was how the trouble arose. Hoare contended that he was standing with some friends at the corner of the wharf when the mate came, along and m the resultant struggle he (Hoare) got the better of the exchanges. That was why the charge was laid, he averred.

Asked who were the friends with whom he was standing, the accused said that they were very old shipmates of his, but 'he did not see them m Court, and could hot say which vessels they were off.

The S.M. indicated that he must put his faith m Saint and his friend. People could not be allowed to take the law- into their own hands as Hoare had done. Hoare would be fined £3, with costs and witness's expenses 20/-.