THE WHARF STABBING AFFRAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12600, 2 March 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE WHARF STABBING AFFRAY.

At the City Policc Court February IG, ihb charge against Angus M'Ncill of having, oil February 2, on boari! Dig ship Isabella Anderson, slabbed one Charles Anderson, causing hi.m grievous bodily harm, was heard before Messrs Vv. Burnett and J. V;ren, J.P.'s. The prisoner was not represented by counsel. In opening the case for the Croivn, Sub : inspector Green sa>id the injured man and the accused were seamen on board [he &h:p Isaboljq. Anderson, then lying »t JtoUray stroel wharj, On l.ho night in question they had scir.e words about closing the scuttle or something like that. That seemed io have beoi all, and there did not seem to have been any provocation. The prisoner, it w::s staled, went over to the other man'aikl stubbed him repeatedly in no less than seven places before Anderson could gob away. The wounds wcto inflicted chiefly about the thighs. One wound was within a hair's breadth of severing a main artery, in which case death would have resulted in a few minutes. An dor sou lost a great deal of blood, and was still in the Hospital suffering from tho effects of tho wounds. The accused had made come statement that he used his knife in self-defence, but there was no evidence of that- at all. ]] Evidence was given by Charles Anderson (tho man stabbed), J)r Brown (Hospital house surgeon), James l>ai;i (a seaman), and Constable Quill, who arrested the accused. The Accused, on being warned, elected to mako a statement, and said on the Monday night, February 2, he came ashore-after work to see about a chest of clothing left at O'Brien'g in Ma.cla.ggan street, where he had been board-, ing. He was in O'Brien's when Anderson and Baync joined him Bayne subsequently left the prisoner and Anderson together, and they had a glass of bear together. They (prisoner and Anderson) then went to the Wharf where they had some beer, and then Anderson went away. Between 9 and 10 o'clock he (prisoner) went on board the vessel and lighted the lamp, then going to bed. There waa then no one iu the forecastle. Ho felt that he was the worse for liquor, and went to sleep very" quickly. Anderson came on board late and] awakened hint (the prisoner). Prisoner saicf,'. " You might shut tho scuttle dcor as you come, clown" as he felt cold. Anderson then said,. " No, I'll make you shut it, and if you say a>word I'll dump vou oveiboard." and Anderson* put out the light and attacked him (prisoner). He defended himself against Anderson, and supposed he gave him (Anderson) " a stab or two." Osi the Saturday previous to this Anderson hud threatened to "dump" one of tho men loading the vessel if he didn't go ashore. Tho Bench eoznmiUcd the accused for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supremo Court. Bail was not applied for. At the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court on Monday, February 23, the accused was charged with wounding the man Anderson with intent to maim or disfigure him. Accused virtually plcadsd " i\ T ni guiliy." Evidence was given confirming that taken at the Police Court. Tho Jury, after an absence of 15 minutes, brought in a verdict of " Guilty," expressing the opinion that the assault was committed under the influence of liquor. The prisoner gave his age as 57 years, and stated that ho was" bom in Argyleshire. There was nothing previous agajjist accused, and the sentence of tho court was 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour.