Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser (Vic. : 1842 - 1843; 1854 - 1876), Wednesday 15 October 1856, page 2


- POLICE COURT. Before J. Blair, Esq. R. M. October 14th. Assault-William Jose and Joseph Barrow, were brought up on remand charged by Captain Loutitt, with insub-ordination on board the emigrant ship "General Hewitt" on the high seas, and with assaulting the Captain. Remanded till the next day. Refusing Duty-The ten seamen of the General Hewitt, whom we reported in our last as having refused duty on board were brought up on remand. Captain Loutitt was sworn and deposed -I am master of the British registered ship General Hewitt. The prisoners are articled seamen, Millard, Parry, Gash, Gudridge, Gashar, Howson are able sea-men, the first five at £2 10, and the last the sailmaker at £3 per month. The re-maining four at 35s. per month. I pro-duce the articles. The ship sailed from Plymouth 4th July last and arrived in Portland Bay 9th October instant. On Friday. following 10th the defendants refused duty. They assigned no cause, but after breakfast on that day they came aft, and said they would not perform any more duty. There is an entry to that effect in the official log which I produce. The immigrants were not discharged at the time, nor was the ship moored. The defendants said they considered the articles broke as they had been done out of their provisions on board. The Ma-gistrate asked Is that all the defence you have to make ? to which the defendants replied they thought it a very good one as the articles were broke. The Magistrate told them they had every opportunity of making any com-plaint in a proper way and time, which they had not done. Found guilty, and sentenced to 4 months imprisonment and hard labour on the roads or other public works.