Firemen Charged with Intent to Murder Serious trouble on board the str. Celtic Prince was the subject of proceedings in H.M. Police Court on Saturday before Mr. G. W. King. Three members of the crew, J. Wright, J. Moore and P. Dean, firemen, were charged with assulting J. Cairns with intent to murder him, at sea on the 26th and behalf of the owners of tis wear Mr. P. W. Goldring a; ret
Immediately the charge had been read, Dean asked if it was correct to prefer a charge of "attempted murder" in a case where no weapon had been used. Commenting on the absence of the prosecutor, he said that Cairns had been drinking with them on the previous day. Cairns had asked the Captain to look over the case, but the Captain said "No." There was no reason why Cairns should have gone to hospital, but the case was a scheme
ship. fo Beh the three defendants off the His Worship answered that Dean was right in asking for the appearance of Cairns. As to there being no "attempted murder" without the use of weapons, he reminded Dean that it was possible to throw a man into the river, or strangle him with one's hands.
Mr. Goldring intimated that there were four other charges to be preferred against the defendants: wilful disobedience, neglect duty, combining with others to impede the navigation of the vessel, and damaging the ship by removing certain brass fittings in the engine room and also the steering wheel.
Defendants denied all four charges.
Det. Sgt. Yorke gave evidence of arrest on board the Celtic Prince.
Mr. Goldring stated that the vessel was leaving on Wednesday, and would not be back for four months. He asked if it would be
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