HUNG UP BY THE HEELS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14347, 27 October 1910, Page 7

HUNG UP BY THE HEELS.

A SAILOR’S STORY. TREATMENT ON A GERMAN BARQUE. With recollections in the minds of the allegation made by the Gorman sailors of the barque Viganella during her stay here, the story told in the Wellington Supreme Court on Saturday morning by & young Norwegian sailor named Olaf Aanenson, who was brought before his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) to receive sentence upon a change of having escaped from lawful custody, is of interest. , The accused admitted the offence before Mr. E. Rawson, S.M., at Westport, and, in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code, he was remanded to the Supremo Court for sentence (reports the New Zealand Times). It appears that Aanenscn was under arrest to answer a charge of deserting from the German barque Martha Bockhahn, now at Westport. When asked if he had any statement to make to the judge, Aanonsen made serious charges against the captain and officers of tho vessel, and declared emphatically that ho would not go back on board. Ho appeared to have some difficulty in understanding the English language. As to his actual escape from custody, the foreigner naively described the cricumstnncos. He said tho door of tho lock-up was left open,-tho constable was not about, and lie walked into the yard, where ho worked for a while, and then went away. That was on October 14. “BLACK AND BLUE” CREW. Questioned as to the reason for his desertion, Aanenson stated that ho had been most cruelly treated on the ship and iiad been knocked down by tho chief mate and tho second mate. There was not one of the boys in the ship who was not black and blue. He believed the vessel was still in Westport, but ho could not go on board again, because he would not ho properly treated, and tho captain had said he did not want him. Ho had been given to understand that the vessel would be in New Zealand waters for about three weeks. “She is a Gorman ship,” lie added, “and I am a Norwegian. That is tho reason they got no use for rno in that ship.” Mr. T. N'cave, who represented the Crown, said that a report on the case had been received from tho Collector of Customs, mid there appeared to bo a difficulty in that this man was suffering from tuberculosis, and was therefore prohibited from landing, under provisions of tho Immigration Restriction Act. Tho master of the vessel had been notified that a bond would he required from him in regard to this man. as the law demanded. Apparently Aanenscn had fled from tho ship out of fear of personal violence. His Honour remarked that, on tho ground of humanity, he should not allow a man who had been treated badly and made black and blue to be placed on board his vessel again if it meant that he was going to ho improperly treated in tho future. It occurred to his Honour that a solution of the difficulty might ho that the sailor should remain in gaol until inquiries were made and full information regarding the matter was brought before tho court. Perhaps Aanonsen would prefer to go to gao! rather than to go hack to tho ship. Tho Inspector of Police put this directly to the accused, who replied promptly and with emphasis, “Yes,, I would rather do six months than go on the ship.” His Honour said that apparently this man was tho only Norwegian in the crew, the remainder being all Germans. It was the duty of tho authorities in New Zealand to communicate with tho German Consul so that he might put tho matter before the German authorities. The Gorman people did not want their countrymen to bo treated in the manner alleged by this sailor. Germany was not different from other countries in that respect. One heard occasionally of inhumane captains— American, British and of other nationalities—and, if tho charges fnado by this man were in keeping with facts, tho Gorman people would make inquiry about it.

.Mr. Neavo; 1 have a report which states that this man spent three days and nights in irons in a pigstye, and was then strung up by the heels and loft hanging until his face was black. His Honour: Where was this? Air. Neavo: I presume it was at sea.

His Honour( to the accused): Where was that? At Westport or at son? Accused; The captain ho hung mo up by the feet in Westport. His Honour; In daylight? Accused: About 4 o’clock in the afternoon. At Westport Quay. His Honour; on the main dock? Accused; Aft in the sail locker, with something round my mouth so that I could not shout. THE HARD LOT OF SAILORS. His Honour remarked that the matter appeared to he one that came within the power of the New Zealand authorities to doal with, seeing that the ship was within our waters at the time. However, he did not wish to express an opinion as to whether it was within the jurisdiction of the New Zealand authorities. The matter was one which should ho inquired into Replying to a query from the bench, accused said the barque would be away in a month’s time. His Honour then decided to send the accused to gaol for five weeks, and, as ho was not well, ho would not be subjected to hard labour. As the prisoner was leaving the dock, his Honour addressed counsel for the Crown, saying; I think the matter ought to ho investigated, Air. Neavo, because it is a monstrous thing if, in those days nf civilisation and humanity, a man should ho treated like this. My opinion is that sailors require more care than other people. They have practically no power to appeal against their treatment, and should bo more carefully guarded than other people. Air. Neave suggested that the Norwegian Consul should be communicated with. His Honour: And the German Consul.