ON THE HIGH SEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 251, 22 October 1924, Page 4

ON THE HIGH SEAS.

SEAMAN MURDERED. I TREWORLAS TRAGEDY. •■- ' TWO INDIANS CHAEGED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ' SYDXEY, October 17. Full details of the murder of John Jacob, a seaman on the steamer Treworlas, while she was on the voyage from Ocean Island to Newcastle, on October 7, were given at the coroner's inquest held at Newcastle this week. Captain Woolcott, master of the vessel, stated that at 4 p.m. on the afternoon of October 7 he was called on deck, and found Jacob lying by the •bunker winch, bleeding copiously from wounds in the back. He was groaniriff and died twenty minutes later. An apprentice named Karkeek pointed to a greaser named Mcdi Doran, savins "That's the man." Doran denied the accusation, and said: "I know nothing I got no knife.'" A careful search of the ship was made, but no knife was found. Doran, a smart-looking Indian, was very self-possessed in Court, and gave his evidence through an interpreter. "They are telling lies about mc," lie told the coroner. 'God almighty knows all about it (looking towards the ceiling) ; I swear by the Most Highest I no kill him." According to further remarks of Captain Woolcott, Jacob had complained before his death that Doran intended to stab him with a knife, but though a. search was made at the time Doran was not possessed of a knife. Stewart Temple, third engineer, who at one time wanted Doran to shake hands and be friends with his countryman, Jacob, told the coroner that the former would have nothing of the su"gestion. "I will fix him bye and bye," Doran replied, at the same time making a stabbing action with his hand. "I am afraid of no man. I fear only my God." The only white man who actually witnessed anything of the tragedy was Daniel Freeman, a seaman. He said he was on the port side of the ship, amidships, when he saw Doran and Jacob standing close together, apparently arguing. Eight bells sounded at the time. He heard a yell, and, looking aft, saw Jacobs running to starboard, while Doran ran to meet him. He lost sight of them for a time, but presently he saw Jacob emerge from the forecastle scuttle, running with his hands over his head. Doran was at his heels, carrying a knife about eighteen inches long in his left hand. His arm was bent as though he had juet struck. Jacob 6taggered towards Freeman and collapsed on the deck. * According to the evidence of Dr. Leslie, the blows were struck by a right-handed man, though Freeman stated that Doran was holding the knife in his left hand when he saw him. Amin Sha, another Indian, said he saw the two men scuffling on the deck, Jacob threw Doran to the deck, but not before he had been stabbed with the knife. While he was holding the Indian down Abdul Hamid came on the scene, picked up the knife, and stabbed Jacob several times in the back. Another link was added to the chain of evidence by Chief Engineer Rule, who stated that Jacob had complained to him that Doran was going to stab him. After the stabbing Doran was placed in the lamp room, and two days later he asked to see one of the seamen named Forbes. To him he is alleged to have made a confession. "I'm 6orry for what I did," he said. ''I only put one wound in the side. Abdul Hamid did the rest." Doran and Abdul Hamid were committed for trial on a charge of murder.