Two members of the crew of the Sarpedon appeared before Mr. G. W. King on Wednesday charged with refusing duty, J. Charleston from the 17th to the 20th and E. Beddoes on the 19th and 20th, Mr. H. Goodacre, chief officer, gave evidence that the ship arriv-j ed a week ago.
Charleston was the worse for drink on Saturday morning and made himself a general nuisance on the ship. He left at 11 am. without leave and did not turn up again that day. On Sunday he was ashore again without leave and again on Monday. He was a bad influence in the ship and something had to be done with him to prevent possible trouble among the others. As to Beddoes, who had also absented himself, witness. thought he wag led away by the other man.
in answer to the Magistrate, witness said both men behaved themselves when at sea.-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.