AN AUCKLAND CAPTAIN IN TROUBLE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8002, 21 October 1887, Page 2

AN AUCKLAND CAPTAIN IN TROUBLE.

EVENTFUL CRUISE OF THE FANNY THORNTON.

At Roeburne, Western Australia, on 4th October, a case of assault was heard against Captain Clover Joy, of the Fanny Thornton, which disclosed the existence of a curious state of things on board that vessel. The Fanny Thornton was bound for Freemantle from Auckland, but on tho way she picked up tho crew o£ tho Florida, wrecked off Browso Island. Captaiu Cleverley, it appeared, was living in the same house at Auckland as tho boatswain of the Fanny Thornton and his wife. Impioper relations, it is alleged, existed between tho captain and tli9 boatswain's wife on the voyage, despite tho boatswain's remonstrating. Previous to the shipwrecked crew coining on board, it wa3 alleged Captain Cleverley a;ave his cabin to tho boatswain's wife, and also occupied ithiniself. The boatswain was ordered by the captain to clean up the cabin and to perform menial offices. It was alleged in evidence that tho captain threatened repeatedly to blow the boatswain's brains out. The latter was determined to have his wife, pnd went to the captain and demanded her. Tho demand was refused, and the boatswain was then 6hovod by Gleverley, and a scuffle ensue.d between them. Tho captain then wont into his cabin, got a life preserver, and hit the man twice on tho back of the huad. He was raising the life preserver for another blow, which would m all probability havo killod tho boatswain, but he was prevented by his oivii mate and tho captain of the Florida, who thru whim onto the deck. The evidence alf.i went to prove the disgraceful conduct oE Cleverley and tho woman, who had her two children on board, who were very badly treated, and one of them died at Cossack on the 3rd October. Tho captain of tho Floiida was charged with assaulting Cleverley, but the case completely broke down. Cleverley was sentenced to two months' isnpiisonmenl Ho is an old man, apparently over CO years of agp. All the shipwrecked orev, as well as those of the Fanny Thornton, strongly disapproved oE Cleverloy's couduct, and all refused to si^n the official log in the captain's favour.