FRACAS AT DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20175, 8 February 1929, Page 14

FRACAS AT DUNEDIN.

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE.

TAXI-DRIVER STABBED

COLOURED SEAMAN ACQUITTED

[by telegraph.—press association.] DUNEDIN. Thursday.

Charges of attempted murder and assault were laid against Arnold Hinds, a coloured native of the West Indies and a British subject, this morning in the Supreme Court, in connection with the incident on the wharf in which a taxidriver, Norman Maitland Childs, was wounded by a knifo being plunged into his chest. Accused, who was represented by Mr. A. C. Ilanlon, pleaded not guilty. Addressing tho jury Mr. Justice Adams said Childs was called on tho telephone to tako six bottles of beer to a ship, and in company with six other men he consumed liquor on the Maimoa. After returning to the rank ho was called to the Maimoa by a man named Tamlin. When tho taxi was passing tho Bloemfontein a discussion arose as to the driving screws of ships and Tamlin and Childs went on to tho vessel and wero allowed to pass to inspect her engine-room. Tho time was alter 9 p.m. Accused, who was quartermaster on the Bloemfontein, stated to the polico that ho did not see any strange men on board except at 8.30 p.m., an hour previous to tho time Childs and Tamlin said they were on the ship. Accused warned them against being on tho vessel. Tho men said they were engineers on tho Maimoa and they went down into the cngino-rooin. Statement by Accused.

Mr. Adams, for tho Crown, had admitted that there were some improbabilities in the statement. It was accused's duty to seo that men did not go down into tho engine-room and stay down there for nn hour. Childs' statement detailing the altorcation was read. lie said Hinds rushed him, and ho felt a knifo going into his chest. He called out to Hinds, "You have used a knifo." Tho statements of accused and Tamlin were also read. It was for tho jury to say whether there was corroboration of tho stories of either accused or Childs.

Giving evidence Norman Childs said ho was called on the telephone by Tamlin. Ho went immediately to tho Maimoa and they left tho ship togothcr and then went on board (ho Bloemfontcin to inspect her engines. This was about 9.45 p.m. They returned to the deck half an hour later. Witness was halfway down tho gangway when accused said, "Wo don't want you whito men on board." Witness said, "Como down iiero and say that." When he heard Hinds coming ho rushed down to tho wharf, and turned to meet Hinds, who rushed at him with his right hand forward. Witness put out his hand to stop Hinds, and then felt a knife going into his loft side. > Incised Wound Inflicted.

Dr. Ernest Edward Butler said Childs was admitted to hospital at 10.15 p.m. on January 14. lie was in a shocked condition, and had an incised wound about two inches long on tho left side of his chest. The wound had penetrated tho lung. Detective Robert Lean gave evidence of tho arrest of accused on January 15. Inquiries were made on the Bloemfontcin and Maimoa, and into incidents in tho cabin of the Maimoa from Dinky-Di. His Honor: That seems to be authoritative. (Laughter.)

Accused said he came from the Barbadoes. He did not have a knife in his possession. 110 was not allowed to carry a knife, as steel affected the magnet of the compass. lie had never been ashore until ho was taken off the vessel by the police. He went about four steps down the gangway in putting Childs off the ship. William Robert Cherry, second officer, said ho saw Hinds at tho top of the gangway, and Childs running across the wharf. Childs came round the corner and lay down on the wharf. Witness thought it was a ruso to get the men on tho ship to go on to the wharf.

The jury after a retirement of 10 minutes returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.