The story of a fireman's fortunate escape from sailing in the ill-fated White Star liner Titanic was told yesterday in the Belfast Custody Court, when, before Sir Andrew Newton-Brady, RM, [Resident Magistrate] Patrick Morgan, of 34 Shore Street, was charged with having assaulted his wife.

Mr John S. Osborne, who appeared for the accused, said his client was the son of a distinguished old soldier, and he might consider himself a lucky prisoner. He was a ship's fireman, and had accompanied the ill-fated Titanic as far as Southampton, when, for some mysterious reason unknown to himself, he absolutely refused to sign on for the voyage and returned to Belfast.

He now found himself in the dock on a charge of assaulting his wife, when instead he might have been at the bottom of the Atlantic.

Sir Andrew Newton-Brady, RM, having heard the evidence, adjourned the case generally, remarking that the man should be thankful for his escape, and he should resolve never to return to the dock in the Police Court again.

(Belfast Newsletter, April 26, 1912)