FIGHT IN COOKS' GALLEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19320, 6 May 1926, Page 12

FIGHT IN COOKS' GALLEY.

INCIDENT ON THE MATANGI. ASSAULT CHARGES FAIL. The sequel to a fight in the cooks' galley of the Matangi at Auckland on February 19 was heard in the Supreme Court yesterday, when Hov Morrison, first cook on tho vessel, was charged with doing grievous bodily harm to Thomas Edward Knott, the second cook, and with assaulting him. Mr. Justice Herdman was on the bench. Mr. Paterson prosecuted, and Mr. Singer appeared for accused. Knott, who appeared in the witnessbox with a bandaged jaw, said he was intoxicated when accused when on board the Matangi after his half-day off on the evening of February 19. Accused asked him if the work had been done. Witness said it had not, and there was plenty of time to do it. With that., Morrison struck him on tho jaw and blackened his left eyo, an artificial one. Accused also knocked him up against a steam boiler and nurnod him arm. Witness did not do anything except put up his hands to protect his face from tho blows. He was still receiving hospital treatment on account of his injuries. In reply to Mr. Singer, witness said he would not deny ho had "shaped up" to have a "go" at accused, but ho did not think ho had done so. Ho admitted later telling some members of the crow that it was his own fault for being under the influence of liquor. James Connolly, steward of the Matangi, said that both men showed signs of having had liquor, Knott being the worst.Medical evidence was given that Knott's jaw was fractured on tho left side, there was a compound fracture on the right side of tho jaw, and his left arm was burned. Morrison's- story was that he returned to the ship to find that the tea dishes had not been cleared up, the fires were out, and tho necessary preparations for breakfast had not been made. When he remonstrated with Knott, the latter said. "Do it yourself," and made a blow at witness, grazing his temple. Witness then twice struck lvnot.t, who had his fists up. At'a later stage Knott had shaken hands with witness, saying he had only himself to blame. His Honor said thore was fairly strong evidence that accused had received provocation. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of not guilty.