STABBING ALLEGED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 5 February 1927, Page 15

STABBING ALLEGED.

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY,

[THE PBESS Special Senrlct.]

AUCKLAND, February 4

The trial of Joseph Andre, a coloured man, on a charge of assault and causing actual bodily harm, was'commenced before Mr Justice Herdmau in the Supreme Court this morning. Mr Paterson prosecuted, and Mr J. 0. Sul. livan appeared for the- accused. George David Cargiil, who suffered the iifjuries, stated that on the day of the affray, ho was in the watersido workers' shed on the wharf. When h* went upstairs the nccused was standing at the door. Witness had to pass him, and as he walked by Andro stabbed him. Ho had wounds on the left side near his bin. and these went down to the hone. Witness did not sec the knife. The clothes produced, bearing several cuts, were those he wore at the time. Witness had had trouble with the accused the night before at a house occupied by a friend of his, named John Iloper. While lie was there, a woman came to him and started a quarrel. It was then that Andre came on the scene and hit him on the head with an axe. and was poing to strike him again when Tinker tcok the a.ve away. Under crosp-esiimiiiaiion. witness admitted that the police had warned him Tint to <y> hack to fhe house, hut he thought he was entitle.-! to <.-o and visit hi* frienrl Hoper. He had never throaten"d in "i"t oven" with the accused. He rdinitted bavin;: been fined for assault 12 month'-! am\ and also servinc twelve days for the same kind of offor.ee. The defence was thai the stabbing was an'accident, after Andre had received a plow on ike face, The accused and several witnesses pave evidence to tin'* effect. The jurv returned n verdiet of not prnilt.f. and the accused was discharged.