HOW IMMIGRANT SHIPS ARE BURNT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 825, 3 July 1879, Page 2

HOW IMMIGRANT SHIPS ARE BURNT.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday last, at Napier, 5 seamen named Byron Ellis, John Black, Oheri: ant Marie, Richard Williams, and John Keeshan, were charged by Captain Payne of the Calseno, with embzzling cargo on the 23rd April, while on the high seas. Ellis, Black, and Keeshan pleaded guilty ; the two others admitted having been intoxicated, but denied having anything to do with broaching the cargo. The master put m evidence the ship's log, and read extracts relating to the affair. Five bottles which had been found m the men's bunks m the forecastle, and which had formed part of the cargo, were produced. Only one bottle was full, and one, which had contained whisky, was quite entity. The second mate, being sworn, stated that his suspicions were aroused through finding Marie drunk at the wheel, and unable to steer the vessel. A watch was set, and Williams and Keeshan were found m the hold. They, acknowledged having stolen a case of ohampagne cider. Williams was very drunk and abusive m the forecastle. A search there disclosed the five bottles produced, hidden m the men's bunks. In answer to the Court, Captain Payne stated that Ellis was a good seaman and a hard working man, who up to the time of the offence had borne a very good character on board ; he also gave Marie and black good characters. The character of Williams had been bad, throughout the voyage. The worthy magistrate, addressing the prisoners, said he was sorry to .see such respectable-looking men charged with this offence— an offence the seriousness of which it was difficult to exaggerate. There was no doubt that the great majority of fires at sea owed their origin to offences of this kind ; and the burning of the immigrant ship Cospatrick, bound for this colony, when nearly every soul on board perished, was attributed to this cause. It was his duty to pass a substantial sentence- It had not beeii proved that the prisoners were equally guilty of broaching the cargo ; but it was sufficiently proved that they had all shared m the proceeds of the crime, and they must have been well aware where the liquor came from. In passing sentence, he would take into account the general character of the men, as testified to by the master of the vessel. Ellis, Black, and Marie, were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor, and Williams and Keeshan to six months each.