SERIOUS AFFRAY ON THE SHIP TIMARU.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 7947, 2 December 1886, Page 5

SERIOUS AFFRAY ON THE SHIP TIMARU.

A SEAMAN STABS THE CHIEF OFFICER. Considerable excitement was caused on the arrival of the ship Timaru on Friday, from London, when it became known that the mate of the vessel had been murderously assaulted on the voyage by one of the crew named Williams. The following are the circumstances :—On the morning of the Bth inst., in latitude 42 deg. 28 min. S., longitude 174 deg 46 min E., with PenearroW bearing north 6 deg east true 67 miles, while hqve-to during a gale of wind, the captain gave orders to'the chief officer to haul tight the weather braces. The watch came along promptly, and hauled tight the weather fore-p braces. . The chief officer, Mr A. Bowling, noticed that W. Williams, A 8., was absent, and knowing that Williams syas in the habit of "loafing,” on the forecastle awhile the others of his watch were at work, went in search of him. He found Williams, and asked him why he did not come to work with his mates. Williams replied, with oaths, that he wonld not come to work until ho had changed his clothes. Being ordered by Mr Bowling, he refused and resisted, when the officer tried. . to pull him ont. Mr Bowling then went to take off his coat, and J. Moore, A. 8., who was taking’ breakfast, saw Williams go to his bunk and take from a rack a sheath knife.As Williams had previously threatened to .used the knife to others, Moore called ont to Mr Bowling to bo oaretal because WiUiams had a knife. Thinking that the officer did not hear him, Moore was running out to tell him when Mr Bowling came in at the door. Seeing that WiUiams had a knife,.Mr Bowling grappled with him, and a straggle ensued, the resalt of which was

that the chief officer was stabbed in the right aide. Williams was endeavoring apparently to stab Mr Bowling again, when Moore caught him by the hand and prevented him from doing so The chief officer managed to walk aft, but was unable to move without suffering great agony, A petty officer was sent to apprehend Williams, who threatened violence at first, but gave himself up and su bmittecl to be handcuffed ou being told that if the captain had come to him and been opposed by violence he (the captain) would have shot him. Williams, while he was being handcuffed, swore that he would have killed the officer or out off his right hand if he had not been prevented, and added that he was not at all sorry for what he bad done, Williams was at ouce put into safe custody and kept handcuffed for the rest of the voyage. During the afternoon of the day on which the offence was committed, Williams was confined in the engine-room, and the carpenter; opening the door suddenly, found him trying to break off the point of the knife. He appeared considerably disconcerted at the interruption, and, throwing the knife down, said no doubt the oaptaiu would want it. On the arrival of the ship in port last Friday, Williams was sent ashore, and placed in a coll at the Police Station. Daring the afternoon, Williams was brought before Mr 1 M. S. Warded, K. M,. and charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Alfred Bowling, chief officer of the ship Timaru. Mr Jelliooe appeared for the prisoner, and asked fora remand till the nea. Wednesday, which was granted. His real name, we understand, is Thomas Power, and not Williams. Mr Bowling is reported to be progressing very satisfactorily, but is liable to aa attack of pleurisy.