DESERTED SHIP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21188, 8 November 1938, Page 11

DESERTED SHIP

LEFT DORIC STAR AT TIMARU An English seaman. Terence O’Neil, appeared before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with deserting from the Doric Star at Timaru on October 26. O'Neil, who is now employed in Timaru, pleaded guilty and was convicted and discharged. Senior-Sergeant D. J. Hewitt explained that accused was aresrted on Saturday by Constable J. Devlin. The representatives of the Shipping Company did not want to go to the expense of returning the accused to the ship at Auckland, but asked that a fine be imposed. There was no provision in the Act for a fine, but only forfeiture of wages or imprisonment. The accused had stated that he had money owing to him. The Magistrate: How much? Accused: About £6. The Magistrate: The Company does not want him back. Were they pleased to be rid of him? Senior-Sergeant Hewitt: I would' not like you to get that view, sir. The represenatives of the owners say that he is a decent chap, and as he has obtained employment they would not force him to return to the ship. “Deserting from ships is a serious offence that is too common,” said the Magistrate, who pointed out that O’Neil had caused his ship inconvenience when it was in port. In view of the fact that he would lose wages due to him, and that could be regarded as punishment, and the owners did not want to go to the expense of sending him back to Auckland, he would be convicted and discharged. O’Neil, he added, had been in gaol since Saturday. Replying to the Magistrate, O’Neil said that he was working in an hotel in Timaru.