USED A BLACK JACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 139, 14 June 1926, Page 9

USED A BLACK JACK.

NEGRO FIREMAN PUNISHED. WEST AFRICAN FIREMEN QUARREL. Having only been discharged from hospital this morning, and with .his head and face completely swathed in pink and white bandages, Tom Brow (30), a dusky native of West Ai'ica, appeared at the Police Court charged with having assaulted Jack Andrews. Brown, who is a fireman on the British steamer Mm, listened to three of his countrymen, also firemen on the Mm, tell the magistrate what happened on board the vessel on Friday night. Andrews, the first witness, also had his head bandaged. He said that he was asleep in his bunk when accused pulled him out and struck him on the head with a "black-jack." "What is a black-jack?" inquired Mr. Poynton. Sub-Inspector Lewin then handed up a dangerous looking weapon, a large iron bolt with a flexible wire handle attached. John Freeman and John Williams also gave evidence, but it was difficult to understand tl eir broken English. However, it appeared that all three coloured men saw Brown strike Andrews on the head with the black-jack and then run into the ship's galley, where he drew a red hot poker from the fire and commenced to "wield it. Freeman took vie poker from him, and !n ' the scuffle Brown sustained burns to his head and face, necessitating so many yards of bandages. Brown told the magistrate that Freeman struck him with the red hot poker, causing the injuries. "Well, you have been well punished, but you must not use such a weapon as a black-jack in Auckland," said ' the magistrate. "As an example to others you will be sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and will be ordered to be placed on board the vessel when she sails to-morrow night."