ALLEGED STABBING AFFRAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13308, 15 October 1906, Page 5

ALLEGED STABBING AFFRAY.

QUARREL AMONG SAILORS ON THE .SUFFOLK. TWO MEN SERIOUSLY INJURED ■ About eleven o'clock on Saturday night the police received information that a. somewhat serious disturbance was taking place on board the 5.6. Suffolk, lying at Queenstreet Wharf. Upon the arrival of the officers a London fireman named Joseph Hume was found in the steward's hospital, suffering from wounds in the head and arms, and Herbert Burke, a Liverpool trimmer, suffering from a cut above the eye. The police made inquiries as to the cause of the disturbance, but failed to get a satisfactory explanation, none of the members of the crow appearing to have witnessed the affray. One sailor said that he looked into the cabin where the scuffle was taking place, and found the place "like a slaughteryard." Not wishing to be implicated he returned to his bunk and lay down. Another seaman, when asked what caused the disturbance, replied, " Beer ; what else do you think." The name man added that the sailors in the boat were the best of friends when they were sober, but when they partook of liquor they wanted to fight. "If they were put to it." said the seaman, '• they couldn't knock a herring off a gridiron." ' ,' „"■ It is alleged that both Burke and Hume were under the influence of liquor, and commenced arguing about the army and navy. This led to blows. It is not known whether both. the combatants used knives, but it is Ktid that a knife was used by one of them. Burke- was placed under arrest, and charged with causing actual. bodily harm, and Hume was sent to the hospital for treatment. On arrival at the police station it was found that Burkes injuries necessitated his removal to the hospital. Upon inquiry being made at that institution last, night it was gathered that both men were doing as well as could bepeered. It will be remembered thai on Wednesday last a fight between a fireman and a sailor took place on the s.s. Suffolk. Both, were brought before the Police Court on Thursday, and they were convicted and discharged. . ■ *