INCIDENT ON WHARF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 8

INCIDENT ON WHARF

MOORING LINES CUT ECHO OF THE STRIKE MAN BEFORE THE COURT [ Per Pres* Association. ] WELLINGTON, May 17. An incident which occurred on the waterfront during the recent shipping strike was recalled in the Police Couh to-dav when Spencer Leo Parsloe, fin' man, aged 33, was charged with at tempting to cast adrift the tug Natone and asaulting a nightwatchman. Ac cused pleaded not guilty and was com mitted to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was renewed. Robert Rankin, nigftrwatchman is the employ of the Union Co., said tha : on May 6. at about o p.m., he was on dutv at the wharves. The Terawhiti, moored at the tug wharf, and the Natone at the breastwork, were lying fairly close together. At 6.15 p m., while he was on the deck of the Terawhiti. he saw a man walk to th° stern of the vessel. The man came up to him and asked him if the lines were secure. On being told they were, the man said; “You would be the first to inform the Union Co. if anything happened.” After a few seconds he walked away in the (Tirection of the feiry wharf. At about 7 p.m., said witness, his attention was drawn to the jinglidg of a chain and he saw a man on the wharf leaning over the ropes at the bow of the Natone. “I went round to investigate, '* said wit ness. “As I approached the man got up and walked towards the donkeyroom. I then noticed a man over the stern lines of the Natone. On walk ing down toward him I saw him cut ting the lines with a pocketknife. He made towards me and w e had a tussle. Then accused came up and interfered. One of the men punched me on the jaw.” Witness said that when he shouted for the assistance the men ran away calling, “Bring the gang along.” When outside the wharf gates they called out that they would know him in the daylight. Constable McGlyn, who answered the nightwatchman's call for aid, said accused was pointed out to him by Ranki.i. The constable described following Parsloe, who wanted to know why he was being followed. When accused went towards a group near tho Post Office witness accosted him and took him to the wharf police station. The constable said accused de- , nied being near the vessel. He said he had had a few drinks and the constable was taking aavantage of thia. Witness considered accused by no means drunk.