ASSAULTING AS ENGINEER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 37

ASSAULTING AS ENGINEER.

GISBORNE, February 1

The machinery of the Union Steam Ship Company's Tuatea (which conveys passengers from the wharf to intercolonial steamers) was tampered with last night. The engineer, vsitmjr the vessel, found in the engine room a fireman, discharged that day, and accused him of tampering with the machinery. The man said he was only looking for some clothes. Being ordered from the sh,ip he refused to leave, and struck the engineer. At 4 this morning it was found that emery powder had been poured on to the bearings, the sea-cock had been opened, and the dynamo put out of gear by some parte being saturated with oil.

At the Police Court to-day James Campbell, recently employed on the Tuatea as fireman, pleaded " Guilty " to assaulting the engineer, stating that he had only gone to get a towel he had left in the engine room, and had been aggravated by the way he was spoken to. He was fined £2. and was remanded to Friday on a eharg-e " that he did wilfully damage the steamer Tuatoa, with tho intention of rendering her useless."' In his e\ idence the- engineer stated that accused knocked him insensible, knelt on his chest, and tried to throttle him.