DISAPPEARED AT SEA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7914, 25 September 1911, Page 6

DISAPPEARED AT SEA

MURDER CHARGE. SECOND MATE OR MAKAWBLi; A couple of trips ago the Aorangi, on arrival at Wellington from Sydney, en route to San Francisco. brought a prisoner, C. Smith, second mate ot the barquentine Makaweli, in custody of an U.S.A. police olhcer. on his way to ban Francisco on a charge of murder on the high seas. The Japanese steward oi the Makaweli disappeared at sea.. ■ ~ Smith was interviewed by a ihmefi representative at Wellington and stated his innocence of the crime. Tho ban Francisco ‘’Call” of August 13th says:Mystery euneunds the disappearance and probable slaying of Cabin Boy K. Imabi, a Japanese, on the barqnentme Makaweli, April Bth, when the ship was on its vovago between Africa and Australia. This mystery may. result in the acquittal of Charles T. Smith, socoiio mate of the vessel, who was pieced in irons the day of the disappearance by Captain Thomas Ncilsen upon the petition of the crew, and whose preliminary trial was begun at San Francisco yesterday (August 12th) before United States Commissioner Francis Ivrull. Seven witnesses examined yesterday said that Smith was at the -wheel at A4o o’clock the morning of April 9th, when the Cook, C. Mano, sent Inabi . with coffee for Smith. Ten minutes later Smi til made his appearance in the galley, asking why his coffee had not been sent to him. Mano told him Inahi had taken it. . V BDOOD FOUND ON DECK. Smith notified three other men on the ship, who were on watch, of the disappearance of the Japanese, and reported the matter to Captain Neil son and, his wife. Both of tho latter came on deck and Airs Neilson saw Smith sweeping the deck near the stern. , When the searching crew came to this spot they found blood in the seams of the, deck, along the rail and down the outside of the vessel. They also found coffee grains scattered about, apparently out of the pot carried by Inabi. The crew petitioned the captain that afternoon to put Smith in irons, as they were suspicious that ho had killed Tna'bi. No blood stains were found on Smith’s clothes. WANTS CASE DISMISSED. The witness testified that Inabi had acted queerly after tho ship left the African coast and had threatened to shoot Smith and to kill Mano, the cook, by stabbing him. Attorney Prank Duryea, representing Smith, moved that his client be released, as no killing had been proved, and that if there had been, any of the other three men on deeck at the time could be considered as responsible as Smith. Commissioner Krull has taken the case under cpnaidf ration,..