Assaulting the Chief Engineer R.M.S. Moselia

A labourer name Rimba Henry was brought before captain Mainwaring, the acting Stipendiary Magistrate yesterday, charged with disorderly conduct and with assaulting Mr. Henry T. Turner, the Chief Engineer of the R.M. C. Steamer “Monelle” on Saturday evening last. The prisoner was employed to carry coal on board of the vessel. At about six o’clock on Saturday evening, Cox, a trimmer, was stationed at the banker shoot on the port side of the vessel to five directions where coal should be thrown. As the port bunkers were all full the prisoner was ordered by Cox to take the coal to the starboard side. This he refused to do, and throw the coal on the banker while the cover was on. He was ordered to take it up but he would not and instead struck Cox int eh back with his basket. Cox reported the matter to the chief Engineer who ordered him out of the ship, but the prisoner refused to go and commenced to abuse the officer. He next challenged the Engineer to go on the wharf for a fight, and while the Engineer was speaking to him, the prisoner struck him on the cheek. Mr.Turner called the bosswain of the wharf and asked him to order the prisoner off. The prisoner refused to leave, but eventually Mr. A. DeMontagnec, the noting Superintendent of the Company, sent for some constables, and the prisoner was arrested. Mr. Turner believed the prisoner was under the influence of drink. While the prisoner was being taken to the lock up he became very disorderly and committed assaults upon the Constables. The prisoner in answer to the Magistrate said that the Engineer had first assaulted him by striking him three times. The Magistrate found the prisoner guilty on both charges and ordered him to pay a fine of 10 each and the cost of 14 days imprisonment in the St. Catherine District Prison, at the same time remarking herself that if the Police had preferred a charge against him for the assault committed upon them her would have sentenced him to 60 days with hard labor. The prisoner applied for time to pay the fine but the Magistrate refused.

source: The Daily Gleaner
location: Kingston, Jamaica