THE STABBING AFFRAY ON THE S.S. MAMARI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10415, 13 April 1897, Page 5

THE STABBING AFFRAY ON THE S.S. MAMARI.

THE ACCUSED REMANDED. A seaman named Robert Wcddal was charged, be/ore Mr. H. W. Brabant, S.M., at yesterday's I'olice Court sittings, that on Saturday, April 10, he assaulted John Morton by stabbing him in tho face. Sergeant Clarke explained the circumstances of the assault, showing thab on Saturday night last there had been a quarrel between the accused and a lamptrimmer named Morton on board the steamer Miimari. Weddal knocked Morton down on the deck and thon tried to kick him. He was prevented from doing so by a fireman named McAleer. Weddal then wont to the forecastle and Morton got up and followed him. The two men met at the door and the accused, Weddal, struck Morton in the face with a sheath knifo, gashing his cheek near tho mouth and just coining short of the man's windpipe. Owing to the nature of tho wound the complainant was nob yet able to appear in courb to givo evidence, and the police would therefore ask for a remand. A remand was accordingly granted for eight clear days. The accused, Weddal, bore the marks of scratches on his right eye and on the nose, and appeared in court without coab or waistcoat, and clad only in a rough jersey and trousers. He said he had left his clothes on the steamer.

The Mamari sails for London this week, bub two witnesses will be detained by the police to givo evidence.