SEAMEN IN COURT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 228, 9 January 1911, Page 8

SEAMEN IN COURT

"LED TtlE LIFE OF A DOG." By Telegraph.—Preßg Association. Wellington, Last Night. I'.im Knudsen, a man of foreign appearance, who had recently been working at Levin, pleaded guilty at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Dr. McArthur, S.M., to a charge that while he was an articled seaman on the Italian barque King Malcolm, ho unlawfully absented himsef from the ship without leave. Sub-Inspector Norwood stated that he had been informed by the agent for the vessel that Knudsen had been practically driven away from the ship by all the other members of the crew. These were Italians. They had assaulted the defendant and inflicted wounds all over his head. The man had lived a "Uog's life" on the ship, and had cleared out simply for self-protec-tion. "• The prosecutor suggested that the information be withdrawn. Really the master of the vessel should have withdrawn the information before she sailed. The Magistrate enquired whether Knudsen had any money, and was informed that he had sufficient to take him back to Levin, where he could obtain work again. The information was accordingly withdrawn. ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE. Two charges were preferred against Peter Connolly, viz., (1) That on 29tn December, at Wellington, being an articled seaman on the Drayton Grange, he unlawfully deserted from the ship, and (2) that on 3rd January, before being engaged as a seaman on tho schooner Isabella De Fraine, he unlawfully and fraudently made a false statement of his own name. Defendant admitted both allegations. Sub-Inspector Norwood informed the court that Connolly had cleared out from the Drayton Grange on the night before she was to sail for England. The company was put to considerable expense, and had to pay £25 for a substitute. Accused went to the shipping master, and made a declaration that his last vessel was some other than the Drayton Grange, and that his name was Joseph Griffiths. These men were apparently making a practice of false declarations after desertion. His Worship (to accused): Have you an tiling to say? Accused: No. His Worship: Very well. On the first charge you will be treated in the same way as others. You will be convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. In reference to the other charge, you have gone a step further than previous deserters. You have gone and falsely represented yourself to have belonged to another ship altogether, thus aggravating the original offence. You will be convicted and fined £2, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. This term will be cumulative to the other.