RECENT STABBING AFFRAY

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 114, 11 November 1919, Page 8

RECENT STABBING AFFRAY

QUARREL IN A BOARDINGHOUSE

Two stabbing affrays have occurred in the city within a. week j the firßt in a narrow lans off Tory-street some evenings ago, and the second in a boardinghVase at 149 Willis-street on' Friday ingfht. The accused in this latter case, a man named Martin M'Donagh, was brought before Mr. W. 6. Riddell, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court, yesterday afternoon, and charged with having assaulted Daniel Collton, a fellow-boarder, j* as to cause him actual bodily harm.

Chief-Detective Boddam appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. C. A. L. Tread•well for the defence.

i Daniel Carberry, a fireman, who was recently discharged from the steamer Whangarratta, stated that... on Friday Bighfc, at between 10 and 11 o'clock, ho Visited the room occupied by M'Donagh and Collton, and found both.men lying on their beds. 'While witness was in tho room having a, drink-of beer, an argument arose between the two men, and bbth got up as if to fight. Accused put Ms hand on the table where a kitchen kmfo lay, but witness could not say "whether he used it on Collton, as he left tlife loom at once "to inform the proprietress, but when he returned, a few lii'oments later, 'he" saw' Collton holding %\i hand to his breast, and heard him exclaim, "I've got it, and I am going." Gpllton was^bleeding from a wound on tjhfe left side of the chest. Witness did riot hear the full argument.

;jln answer to, Mr, Tread well, witness implied that he took no part in the argument, no* did he assist Collton to assault the accused. He could not account 10 the injuries on accused's head.' The accused was somewhat under the influ■atice of liquor," but Collton was not delink. He, bimself,."was sober. As he left the room another man entered, but ip could not say who it was.

:<At this stage the hearing was adjourned; till to-day.