The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-15
CRUELTY BEATEN
AND THEN KICKED
MATE OF THE "TILLIE BAKER"
ALLEGED TO HAVE ASSAULTED
SAILOR JOE DOVEY AT SEA.

DOvey Mate Hauled Before Commits
siOner Hewlett Yesterday Morn
ing Because He Would Not Pay
the Sailor the Money That Was
Due Him-Chattering Crowd or
sniIOr-Witnesses Made Progress of
Trial Slow.
Kicked and beaten by the mate of
the vessel on which he was a sailor
and then denied the money which he
had earned, was the tale told by Joe
]. Dewey. a sailor on the bark Tile
Baker, before United States Commits
sioner w. r. Hewlett yesterday morn
ing.
Dovey had shipped on the Tillie Ba-
ker as a first-class sailor and for
time his life was no harder and no
better than that of the average sailor
on the smaller vessels. After the boat
had been to sea for some time, how
ever the mate began exercising his
authority and enforcing his orders in
a cruel and unusual manner, according
to the story of the sailor.
Once, while out at sea, Dewey had
been given an order to execute. Eth
er because his command was not car
red out as promptly as he thought it
should be. or because he had merely
taken a dislike to the sailor, the mate
attacked him and beat him. he alleges
Alleges He Was Kicked.
Not satisfied with the terrific drub-
bling that he had given him, he is al
legged to have kicked the man while
he lay upon the deck, the heavy boots
striking him on the knee and along the
ribs. Fortunately no ribs were broken,
though the knee was so badly injured
that it was almost impossible for the
sailor to move from place to place on
the ship.
This alleged constant ill-treatment,
of which Dover claims he was not the
only victim, aroused in him an intense
fear of the mate. In order to avoid be-
ing again kicked and beaten, when the
boat reached port he decided to get
AWAY and quit the service. He made
his usual application for the pay that
was due him, but this was refused, he
claims.
Appealed to Commissioner.
All other means failing, Dewey took
his case before United States Commits
sioner w. r. Hewlett. He told his story,
asked that the commissioner compel the
mate to turn over the pay still due
him. There was no desire on the part
of the man to press any criminal
charges against his superior officer.
A subpoena was issued calling for
the appearance of the mate before the
commissioner and at the hearing the
story was again told in detail. Dewey
was accompanied by a number of mis-
fellow sailors, and the way they chat
tered assent and dissent to the differ
ent statements, made the court room
a scene of confusion. The appearance
of the United States Deputy Marshal at
last quoted them down.
Denied AssauIting Sailor.
The mate denied having kicked and
beaten the sailor. The sailor, however,
rolled up his trousers and displayed the
injured knee. Though some time had
elapsed since the alleged beating had
been inflicted. the knee was still raw
and sore and showed that it must have
occasioned the complainant great pain
and suffering, especially in the rer-
Torrance of his duties.
All the evidence tended to confirm
the story of the petitioner for justice,
and the commissioner promptly ordered
that the money due him be paid, and
that the expenses of the trial be borne
by the mate. Dewey received about $S7
pay.
There being no desire to prosecute
the mate for assault, or for any other
criminal offense on account of the al
legged beating, the men were allowed TO
go as soon as bond for the payment of
the money due Dewey had been ar
ranged.