MURDER CHARGE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 October 1924, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE.

AUCKLAND STABBING AFFRAY. SHUTES ARRAIGNED. KNIFE USED FREELY; (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. . AUCKLAND, Oct. 13. Benjamin Harrison Shutes appeared at the Police Court to-day on a charge or the murder of - Louis Short,-, and also or assault on Frederick Jamse Sands ssa ult on Arthur Jensen, uuth intent to do bodily harm. Malcolm Kilpatrick (42), a - greaser on the steamer Mamari. said, that 'vith another- fireman lie called at the , City Hotel on Friday evening and had a drink in an upstairs room. Accused ciime in in a slightly intoxicated condition, and the licensee asked them to leave the room as there was too much noise. As witness left he heard the word knife used, but did not identify the speaker. Witness was joined by Shutes outside, and"the two went to the Aurora. Hotel, was consumed. Accused went out of the room, apparently to get more beer, and soon afterwards witness heard .-a scuffle and decided to beat it,- as he feared a police raid. . . , . Frederick Frank Stetton. a fireman on the Mamari. gave evidence that, he was in the Citv Hotel when - "Sands, the licensee, told; accused ..to desist from making a row. Shutes became annoyed and refused to leave. He retreated into a, corner and- drew a clasp knife from his pocket, remarking that he did _ not care for anyone, to interfere with him. .Witness called out: “Boss, there’s a man here going to use a knife.” Accused returned the knife to his pocket and the licensee persuaded him to leave with Kilpatrick. Accused was in a state of maudlin drunkenness. . , Oscar Arthur Jensen, first .assistant engineer on the steamer . West Islip, said he entered the firemen’s quarters shortly after eleven o’clock on Friday night, when Shutes. was complaining that he could not find anything to eat. He was under tlTe influence of liquor and witness told him to cease arguing. Witness was leaving when Shutes, who had an open knife in liis hand, followed him to the deck; where he rushed at witness, inflicting a gash in the cheek with the knife blade. Witness got a piece of timber arid hit Shutes over the head about three times in self defence. The fourth blow knocked accused unconscious, but while witness was seeking assistance Shutes went to his brink. There was no doubt accused had been drinking. Other members of the crew gave evidence. Julian . Anthony Found, a greaser, said that when accused' returned to the ship he said : he had been in a fight in town and had lost his cap. He held the knife in his hand and remarked: “I do not see any blood on it. T think I ripped., somebody up town.”; Accused also said he had . been pursued, over a roof. . Tim. hearing will be resumed ‘ tomorrow.