CHARGE OF DESERTION.

Waikato Times, Issue 12860, 6 May 1914, Page 5

CHARGE OF DESERTION.

SAILING WITH FOREIGN CREW. STEW VKDS UNENVIABLE EXPERIENCE. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. Harold Nelson, who was arrested on a charge of deserting from the steamer Hollington, en which vessel he was a steward, asserts that the Crook crew had told him that ho could have his choice when again on the high seas between knifing and being thrown overboard. He was, lie states, physically fit when he left Newport on New Year's Day, but to-day he was just a bundle of nerves. It had been a common sight to see the foreigners among the crew using their knives and fighting with their teeth. On arrival at Auckland he had to make up the manifest. He knew the. Greeks had quantities of tobacco, and, it'was his duty to infqrm the Customs officers that they refused to ;account for it. The crew thereupon swfere that it would be tho end of him, and they rushed his cabin. When he bolted the door they smashe&lho porthole, and ho was lucky to escape with his life

In. Court ttt-day, the police stated that the'charge of insertion would not be proceeded,attth ; v nor would Nelson be required to rejoin tEe, ship, provided he paid the costs, amounting to £2 10s. This he agreed to. do, was di%charged." , *