THE lONIC HOLD-UP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22058, 14 September 1933, Page 10

THE lONIC HOLD-UP

POLICE COURT SEQUEL IMPRISONMENT WITH HARD LABOUR. ! (From Oub Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 27. At East Ham Police Court, on July 25, William Evans, a ship’s fireman, of Plumstead, and 24 other firemen of the lonic were summoned for combining together wilfully to disobey lawful commands on the vessel at Wellington on June 6. Evans appeared to be the leader of the gang, and would have to go to prison for a month. The other 24 men would each have three weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour. Mr E. Peregrine, who prosecuted, said the lonic carried a crew of 180, of which 30 were firemen and trimmers. At 7 a.m. on June 6 the lonic, due to sail, was lying by the side of the Mahia. ihe boatswain of the Mahia had had a Quarrel with the crew of his own ship, and the captain of the lonic had agreed to bring him home to England as a passenger. When this became known, William Evans, as chief leader and spokesman of the firemen, said they would leave five or six men in the engine' room to keep up steam, but the others had made up their minds to leave the vessel if the boatswain of the Mahia was carried home. They succeeded in their conspiracy to the extent that they were able to make the captain send for the police to take the boatswain of the Mahia off his vessel. Not until then was the captan able to sail. Mr H. H. James, who appeared for the defendants, pleaded guilty to the disobedience of orders, but said the men did not as a fact leave the ship. They stood at the bottom of the gangway discussing the matter. The whole thing arose out of circumstances in the Mahia which were at the present time being investigated. When these men heard of it they knew they would be in a difficult position with other seamen if they brought _home the boatswain. The whole of the 25 men bore excellent characters. Sentences were passed as stated.