A SHAMAN STABBED

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 132, 2 December 1895, Page 2

A SHAMAN STABBED

This morning, in the Magistrate's Court, Thomas Williams, a sailor on the barque Alice, appeared on a charge of having assaulted Thomas David Hughes, and caused him bodily harm. He was undefended by counsel, and pleaded Not Guilty. Thomas David Hughes, who appeared with hia arm and head bound up, stated that he was an A.B on the ship Pleione. Witness was ashore on Saturday night in company with an apprentice named Norman Wallace Campion. On their return to the Pleione early on Snnday morning, they found the accused ou board. He asked Campion for the loan of some money, and a quarrel arose. Accused wanted to fight Campion Witneas said Campion was an apprentice on tbo ship, and wonld get into a row if ho was caught fighting, and added, " If you want to fight anyone, fight me." Campion and accused then went ashore, and Williams was about to strike Campion, when witness followed and interfered. The cook ot the Pleione, William Holmes, then attempted to get witness on board again ' Witness and Holmes had a struggle. While Holmes was trying to take witness on board, the accused said, " I'll fix the ! " and made a rush at witness. Witness fell, with aocused on top ot him While down, witness folt a stab on the left temple, and put up his arm to defend himself, when he was stabbed again several times in the arm. Witness was then taken on board and a dootor sent for. Dr Cihill said he was called to see the last witness at about 2 o'olock yesterday morning, and found him bleeding profusely from wounds on the head, hand, and arm. Any sharp instrument wonld have caused the wounds. Norman Wallace Campion, apprentice on the Pleione, corroborated the evidence of Hughes. Alfred Kjrkpatrick, an A.B. on the Pleione, deposed that he was on board the ship when the row oocurrod, and getting up saw Holmes and Hughes struggling. Acoused came up to witness, and said — " I wish it was me that was fighting him. I'd give the this ! " showing witness a knife. Then the accused rushed at Hughes and knooked him down. While the two were on the ground witness saw Williams raise his right hand and strike at Hughes' head several times. Witness had Been the knife in the right hand of the acoused, but could not see whether it was in hia hand as he struck. He suspected that aooused waa stabbing Hughes, and rushed np and pulled him off. Witness oaught him by tho wrist, but did not see any knito in hia hand. Atter being aeparated trom Hughes the accused took to his heels and ran iv the direction of hia ship. Williams was certainly drunk, and Hughea waa excited. Witneaa had been with Hughes until 9 o'olook that night ; he had not drunk anything up till then. Witness was perfeotly sober. William Holmes, oook on the Pleione, gave similar evidence Joseph Woods, ordinary seaman on board the Alice, stated that Williams went ashore on Saturday night about 6 o'olook. Before going ho borrowod the knifo (produced) from witness to cut tobacco with. Since witness lent it two blades had been broken. The knife had three blade?, one of whioh had been broken before he lent it. The acoused did not return the knife to witness. Constable Armstrong said he heard a disturbance on tho wharf and went down to the Pleione. A knife (the same as the ono produced) was given him by a boy, who ran away after Baying he had pioked it up on the wharf. Constable Johuston deposed as to tho arrest of accused. Hia Worship oommitted the accuaed for trial at the criminal sittings commencing today. Bail was allowed in two sureties of .£25 each.