A STABBING AFFRAY. THREE MEN INJURED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2375, 7 September 1899, Page 17

A STABBING AFFRAY. THREE MEN INJURED.

WELLINGTON, September 2. While the steamer Tolosa' was leaving the wharf this evening for Lyttelton an affray occurred on board which resulted in the boatswain, a Greek, stabbing three men, two, it is feared, fatally. He then jumped overboard and swam ashore, where he was arrested. The injured men were removed to the hospital. One was found to have been stabbed above the heart, the other had a deep wound in the right ■breast, while the third received a flesh wound in the face. Two of the wounded men are Londoners.

September 3. i In connection with the affray of a very serious character which occurred on board the ocean steamer Tolosa as she was leaving the wharf for Lyttelton last evening, the boatswain is a Greek named Constan.tine Hatzakis. The three firemen stabbed are named James Newberry, Frank Jones, and James Saunders. Several of the steamer's firemen had been drinking on shore during the day, and several minor quarrels had taken place, culminating in a combined attack on the boatswain by seven of the men as the vessel was leaving the wharf. Several well-known citizens saw the whole affal-r, and they are unanimous in declaring that the Greek was provoked almost to madness, and only drew his knife when his assailants had him cornered in the forecastle. The officers of the steamer express a similar opinion. 1 Newberry. and Jones are very badly injured, the former having two stabs in the right side and the latter a deep wound in the region of the heart. Their depositions were taken at the hospital last night, and in them they represent the Greek as having provoked the row. Their condition shows a slight improvement to-day, but not much 'hope is held out of their recovery. Saunders escaped with a flesh wound on the r hip. I After the stabbing occurred the Greek, 'being in fear of his life, jumped overboard and swam ashore, where he was immedij ately arrested on a charge of wounding with intent to kill. # Thomas Grant, John Dixon, and George Evans, who were concerned in the affair, were arrested for disobeying the commands of the officers. They will all appear at the court in the morning. With the exception of the Greek, all the men were more ok

less drunk. When they had the Greek bailed up, the officers, in endeavouring to j disperse them, came in for some rough treatment, the chief mate receiving a very nasty blow over the eye. The officer's speak highly of the Greek, whom they 'lescribe as a quiet, inoffensive men and an excellent seaman ; moreover, he was quite sober, and has been a teetotaller for many years. Before the knife was used he took I up a hammer to defend himself, but his assailants still crowded round him. Even when he was in the water some of them threw capstan-bars, sticks, and pieces of iron at him. The Tolosa has cargo for southern ports, but it will depend on tomorrow's court proceedings when she will be able to leave. September 4. • Constantine Hatzakis, the boatswain of the steamer Tolosa, was to-day charged with attempting to murder Frederick Jones, Thomas dewberry, and Joseph Saunders. Accused, who is a small man, appeared in dock with a number of wounds on his face, which seemed to have healed in a -remarkable way compared with the state he was in on Saturday. James Gordon, chief officer of the Tolosa; described what "took place. Three firemen had been drinking_ a-11 day, and went on board intoxicated, one being carried on another man's shoulders: They used bad language, Grant particularly so. Witness struck him. Newberry joined in, and accused came to witness's assistance. A general melee followed, which was temporarily pacified by the captain. During this Grant kicked the chief engineer in' the face. ''Most of the firemen went away, but Jones refused to leave the forecastle, and wanted to fight accused. He separated them twice. Then Saunders came up, and wanted to fight accused, who picked up a hammer to defend himself. Witness took it from him, and accused went on with i his work. Then Newberry rushed up and ' joined in an attack which was made by j Jones, Saunders, Grant, Newberry, and j Robertson, on Hatzakis, who was knocked down, amid cries of " Throw the over- . board." Accused was jammed in a corner, ■ with the firemen on top and mound him. | Witness tried to pull them olf, and saw j Hatzakis drew his knife. He shouted a j warning, and accused jumped up and struck i out, but whether with an intent to kill I or merely to stand the men off he could not say. Witness rushed at him, and knocked his arm against the rail, the knife going overboard. It was a. Swedish knife, with a blade about 4in long. Hatzakis jumped overheard, and witness then found that three of the men were stabbed. He saw no other knife used, but immediately afterwards the third engineer handed one to him, which he said he took from Saunders. In cross-examination witness said that accused had been two years on the ship, and he described him as a quiet, inoffensive, sober, and industrious seaman. He did not usually carry a knife, but along with witness, he had just been cutting potato sacks. When he jumped up he appeared to be dazed. Witness considered him in peril of his life, and had he been in the same position himself he would have used a weapon. The firemen were acting like madmen. All the witnesses called expressed the opinion that the man was fighting in selfdefence. Captain Seaborne, who witnessed the affair from the bridge of the Tolosa, said if he had been in the same position as the Greek he would most certainly have used a revolver. He corroborated the evidence of the chief officer, and said he imagined from the shouts that were going on that accused was in danger of his life. A whole crowd of men made a rush at him while he was doing his duty, and Saunders in particular showed a fighting attitude. At 6 p.m. the further hearing of the case was adjourned till Friday. Mr Haselden refused bail in consequence of the critical condition of Newberry. John Dixon and George Evans, two of the men concerned in the row, were charged with disobeying the lawful commands of their officers. Both men complained that they did not receive sufficient food on board the Tolosa, and said they would rather go to gaol than go back tg the vessel. Counsel for the captain said that not the^ slightest complaint about the food had been heard during the voyage. Mr Haselden, S.M., ordered the men -to forfeit two days' pay, and advised them to bring their grievances j before the collector of customs at Lyttelton. j Thomas Grant, on a charge of assaulting the chief officer, was remanded till Friday. Informations were sworn to-day against the three men in the hospital, charging them with assaulting Hatzakis with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.