Northern Times. — 1859-10-17 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

CHARGE OP SMUGGLING AGAINST A CAPTAIN.— Captain James Hamilton, master of the steamer Princess Royal, was charged with smuggling - some brandy, wines, tobacco, and cigars. The steamer trades between Liverpool and Havre; and on Friday, the Custom-house Officers discovered some wines, cigars, tobacco, and silk concealed in a secret drawer. Captain Hamilton had previously told the officers that there were no goods liable to duty on board.—Mr. Mansfield inflicted the full penalty of £lOO. . [Befcre Messrs. S. HOLME and R. W. HounuToN.] VIOLENT ASSAULT BY A CAPTAlN.—Captain James Joseph Grimes, master of the ship• General Simpson, was charged with committing a brutal and unprovoked assault on Daniel King, one of the seamen • belonging to the ship. Mr. Parker was for the complainant. It appeared from the evidence of the complainant, that the vessel was on her passage home from St. John's, N.B. ; and that on the 29th ult., when the ship was off Bardsey Island, the defendant, who had a large telescope in his hand, went up to the complainant, who was at the wheel, taking his turn of duty, which he had regularly done from the commencement of the voyage. At the time the complainant was performing his duties to the best of his ability. The defendant, in a very abrupt manner, addressed him, saying, " Keep the ship more on her course." Complainant replied that he was doing his best to keep the ship in her proper course. The defendant told him he was not, and without any further remarks, he struck the complainant a very via-• lent blow on the head with the telescope, inflicting a serious wound. The force of the blow may be imagined, when we state that the telescope was smashed to pieces. After striking the poor fellow with the telescope, the defendant pulled him over the wheel on to the deck, and then struck and kicked him about the head and various parts of his body, until he became insensible. The defendant then walked about the deck in a state of great excitement, threatening to murder the whole of the crew. The complainant and two other witnesses were called and deposed to the above facts. Mr. Bluek, who appeared on behalf of the defendant, did not deny the assault, but urged that the complainant had provoked it by his impertinence to the defendant, when the latter ordered him to steer right. No witnesses were called for the defence, Mr. Bluck stating that the first mate, who could have proved that the complainant was impertinent, had unfortunately left the port.—Mr. Holme, in giving the decision of the bench, said that the assault was an exceedingly aggravated one. No answer whatever had been given to the evidence of the witnesses for the complainant, who had given their testimony in a straightforward manner. If the complainant, on the occasion of the assault, was really steering badly,- the defendant had his remedy without committing such a serious outrage. He wished to know what the first mate could be doing to allow such bad steering, but there really was no proof that there wits bad steering at all ; and from the evidence before the bench, the defendant was altogether without excuse.' Captains of vessels, who were invested with such large powers on board their ships, ought always to exercise those powers prudently, with discretion, and according to law. If the defendant had brought the complainant before the bench for neglect of duty, and the case had been proved against him, they would doubtless have made a deduction from his wages ; but instead of doing this, the defendant had committed an assault, and an assault of a very grievous nature, for which he must take the consequences. He must pay a fine of £5 and costs.  M• Roger, of the Paris Opera, who is now happily in a state of convalescence, contemplates, it is said, an artisLic tour in Germany and England.