NICHOLAS SCHINAS Vs. NEMAZIE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is not the legendary maritime Saga but is a now Odyssy where a modern Ulysses has not returned home from his wanderings. It is the story of a Greek Sailor left derelict at the Port of Calcutta. He sailed on 27-2-1941, from New York by S. S. Eonin under a Spanish American master, flying the flag of the Republic of Panama with that unlucky number of 13 Greeks in the crew. S. S. Ronin arrived in Calcutta on or about the 2nd or 3-6-1941. Immediately on his arrival in Calcutta he had to be admitted to the Presidency General Hospital suffering from bronchitis and asthma and there underwent treatment for 22 days. Coming out from that hospital he was again in the Howrah General Hospital for another three weeks.

(2.) He signed this plaint on 10-12-1942, more than one year and a half after his arrival in Calcutta. He presented the plaint on 7-1-1943. He sues as a pauper one Nemazie, owner of S. S. Ronin for the sum of ES. 13004 as his salary for 1 year 5 months and 21 days from 10-6-1941 to the 30-11-1942, as the Chief Steward of the ship at 64 per month coming altogether to & 1132 16s. which is said to be the equivalent of Its. 14104 at the rate of 1s. 6d. to the rupee. He gives credit against this sum for the amount of Rs. 1100 admitted to have been received by the plaintiff in driblets from time to time subsequent to 9-6-1941. This is the only subject matter of this suit and the only present controversy between the parties.

(3.) Before the suit proceeds even to the stage of the written statement by the defendants there follows a strange interlude for over a year and four months. The plaintiff was arrested by the Calcutta Police on 24-1-1943, and despatched via Cochin and Aden to Alexandria, the then seat of the Greek Government in the last War when. Greece was under the occupation of Germany, to answer certain charges which are not relevant for purposes of this suit. The plaintiff was acquitted of all such charges. Then began the plaintiff's return journey to Calcutta. He approached a Greek ship by the name of S. S. Nichostin and signed on as a Galley boy or a cook. His next halt was Aden where he stayed for 5 days. Thereafter he took another ship and sailed away as an Assistant Cook to Souths Africa. From there he was brought back to Egypt and then to Suez where he was disembarked. Prom Suez he says he returned to Calcutta by another ship S. S. Victorious on the 28-5-1944. That is the interlude between 24-1-1943 and 28-5-1944.