SWEDISH LOVE SONGS

NZ Truth, Issue 579, 22 July 1916, Page 2

SWEDISH LOVE SONGS

Not Relished m the Fo'castle Karl Anderson runs Amok Trouble on the Tainui At the Wellington Magistrate's Court, on Monday, before Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., a cadaverous-looking Swede, named Karl Anderson, was. charged with chopping up his shipmates, named William Haines, Alfred Holbrook and Frederick John Canning, with a table knife. The prosecution ■was m the hands of Inspector Hendrey and theaccused was unrepresented. Dr. Henry said that he was called to the s.s. Tainui at about three o'clock on the morning of July 16. He went into v the ship's forecastle and found Canning enjoying a variety of wounds, including one of one and a half inches long on the thumb which required A LITTLE SURGICAL TAILORING to get it into shape. Holbrook had a ragged scratch across the neck, which could have been done with the knife (produced). Haines had a small wound on the wrist which had penetrated the skin. '• . , Alfred Holbrook, a fireman from the Tainui, said that he knew Karl, who was a groasor. In the forecastle, at about one ; o'clock on Sunday morning, Karl was singing something m Swedish. Suddenly he jumped up m an excited manner and "come at us." Alfred told him that "if he wanted anything he could have it." Karl commenced by advancing m a threatening manner with a knife m his hand. Then AIL closed with him and Karl cut him across the "chops." He, got under the accused's arm and Canning closed with Karl. The accused had been drinking and "once his temper is roused, it is very hard to get it down again," said witness. Alf., who is a genuine Cockney, said to him, "Wot's all this abart?" The accused expressed contrition for his. act. "Then we collared each other around the neck and kissed each other," said witness. Later on Karl collared another knife and again took up the dissecting industry, and "I took a rawsp or haulfround file. He come at me an' I belted him across the wrist with the rawsp," said witness. Karl: I vos singing Swedish love song an' they tell me to shut up and not sing. Then he hit me with de vile an' fife or zix roosh me. Frederick John Canning, the fireman who had his digits almost amputated, said that the accused was a man of exceedingly violent temper. Karl (m a disgusted manner): It's all ridte. Dere all against me. Dey've been all against me ever zince ye left London. Witness's further evidence was corroborative. William Haines said that he saw Canning with his fingers all cut and I bleeding. He saw the struggle and closed with the accused and they both fell on the floor. When he got up he noticed that his (witness's) wrist was cut and bleeding and there was a knife on the floor where the accused had fallen, but he did not know if the jagged wound had been done with a knife or with the accused's teeth. He helped to cool Karl down a bit till the police were called. "HE WAS LIKE A MANIAC," said witness. "He looked as if he had been drinking a little, but was -more mad than drunk. If people want to use them sort o' tools, there's plenty of room m Europe for 'em." Arthur Jones, another shoveller of coal, deposed that he could see no reason whatever for the accused's excitement. He jumped straight up and seized a knife about four inches long and came straight at Hotbrook. Accused was jabbering Swedish and Holbrook said, "If you are looking for anything you can have it." Canning jumped out of bed and grappled with him. The accused made a slash at him and his face and fingers were cut "m the one sweep." Later on, he went up to Canning and said that he was very sorry for what he had done, but he was still brandishing a knife at the time. He would not say that the accused was drunk, as he had seen him act m a similar manner when be was perfectly sober. Accused: You say you vos soper an' you elp to drink DE CASE OF GIN taken from de No. von hold. Witness (fiercely): Who? Karl: You vos. ' Witness (to the Inspector) : Yes, I gave a statement to the police and to the second mate at the time. Sergt. King said that he arrested the accused. He entered the forecastle of the Tainui and found the three sitting around suffering from wounds. Ho said to accused, "What do you mean by this?" Accused roared out, "I'm no murderer." The Inspector: What was. his condition? — He was absolutely mad. Had he been drinking?— He had had ! some liquor, but I would say that he was more mad than drunk. Witness arrested the accused and took possession of the knife. He heard him threaten them by saying, "I'll murder the lot of ye." He kept waving his hands In the air and repeating the desire for blood. When the clerk read out the formula of committal to the Supreme Court, Karl (who had three patches of pelt missing from his face) salil, "I'm agin It. UK's ull lies. I didn't sdardt der drubble. I voa Hlnglug Svedlsh songs and dey all Mart oti mo." The clerk: Do you plead guilty or not guilty?— Karl: Dnt's no good to me. Dey've been ull agin me over nhtnce ye lefdt London. Vere you dink I ghet dls from (hero accused drew a bandage from his wrist and exhibited a red wound) and all down my pack an' head too? Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.