Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 23 Apr 1895

"Seamen's Claim for Wages at Teignmouth.
At Teignmouth Petty Sessions yesterday, ..., two seamen named William Callow and George Sackett, sued Joseph Prynn, master of the schooner Touch-Me-Not, of Fowey, under the Merchant Shipping Act, for wages due to them. Callow claimed £8 3s 10d, and Sackett £10 13s 6d. Mr J. Beal (Exeter) appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr J. Shelley (Plymouth) for the defendant. Mr Beal said his clients shipped on board defendant's vessel on a voyage from Teignmouth to Antwerp, and from thence to Sunderland. While at Antwerp the vessel got ice-bound, and the defendant offered the plaintiffs their food to work the ship for nothing. This they refused. They then saw the British Consul at the port, and by his advice they returned to the ship. The vessel was ice-bound 32 days, during which time the defendant refused to pay them any wages. Plaintiffs did not leave the vessel until they came to Sunderland, which was the final port of discharge. At the latter place they gave the defendant the usual 24 hours' notice to leave, and at the expiration of that time they left the ship. The defendant had offered to pay the amount claimed less certain deductions. Plaintiffs were called and bore out their advocate's opening statement. They denied that they agreed to stay on for their food only. The defendant was called, and said he told all the crew that they were not to do any work, as he could not afford to pay them their wages while ice-bound. All hands agreed to this, but two days afterwards plaintiffs wanted their wages. The Bench awarded Sackett £6 14s and Callow £4 5s 2d.