HIGH SEAS STABBING

Chronicle (Levin), 20 July 1946, Page 5

HIGH SEAS STABBING

-Press Association

SEAMAN ON MURDER CHARGE

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, July 19. At a special sitting of tliq Magistvate 's Court, a i: unl)er of the crew of the ino tor vessel Lussex, James Watson, seainan, aged 4(5, appeared before Alr. I J. H. Luxford, 8. AL, cliarged tliat on ' or about .July 9 when on tlie high seas ! between Balboa (Hauama Canal) and i Auckland, he did murder Peter King. j Evidence was led by the Crown Hrose-; cutor, Alr. Y. R. AEeredith, and accused : was represented by Mr. Henry and Alr.; Aekins. Alr. Hayiner appeared for the X'ew Zealand Shipping Company. I William John McCarten, donkeyman, ! said that 011 July 9 he and a manj liamed Rutherford were vvitli King in witness's cabin. Before tea they von-: sumed two bottles of beer and after tea they went back to the cabin. Wat-I son joined them. He had a glass in liisi haiul which he said contained ruin and beer. King chafl'ed accused for drink-i ing his own ruin and accused said he; would bring in liis rum if King" would' do the sanie. The two men went out | and later returned with their rum! which was consuiued. Witness de-l scribed the drinkilig wliicli took place_ dul'ing the evening unlil shortly after midniglit when Watson canie into the cabin and called witness, King and Alurray a name. Aturray took exception and asked Watson if tliat was meaiit for him as well. Watson said it was, j after wliicli •Alurray knocked accused! to the floor. Witness said he took accused along to a batliroom and left him there 011 the floor. He'went out 011 to the deek where King and Alurray were and shortly afterwards King went inside. The next tliing witness knew was tliat King staggered out 011 to the deek holding his left side. Watson was following him and it could be seen that blood was.oozing from between the injured man 's lingei's. Watson had a knife 111 his hand and witness ran and knocked him down. He"sat on top of liitu and struck liim twice. Avvused became unconscious and he was liand-: cuffed. j Gorroborative evidence was given liv anotlier donkeynuui-greaser, Henry Alurray. ; Another memlier of tlie crew, William ■ Rutherford, said he saw Watson being1 held 011 deek. Accused still had tlie ] .knife wliicli witness recognised as his own. 'Witness. .hacl left -it in his lockerj but accused knew it was kept there. j " Watso4'! jump'eci upf'- ' said -.witness.! " He pushed King against the bunkj into a sitting position vvitli his back: against the bulkhead. He went to the; locker and drew tlie knife, took.it from i its sheatli, and ruslied to tlie bunk. He; lifted his arms and tlirust the knife iiito King's side." '

Htrut'hers Eobert Wallis, supernumary chief oftieer, said he saw King lying 011 the liatch. He had a large knife wound under his Jet't arm which appeared to be very deep. Witness bandaged it and felt his pulse wliich was very 5 weak. He was removed to a cabin in 1 the oflicers' accomlnodation but hisl heai^t beat and pulse were weakeiiingt rapidly. At approximately 1.30 a.m. I the master proiiounced him dead. i The master of the Bussex, Oaptain Albert Edmond Taylor, said when he saw King shortly after the tragedy he appeared to be almost dead. Watson was slumped in a seat apparently in a stupor and he was liandcuffed. Witness said Rutherford slapped accused 's 1 face and was asking him wliy he took the knife. Watson revived and said something about being called a name. Wlien told of King's condition he said he was sorry. Accused was placed under arrest. ? "King was an old servant .of the company," said Oaptain Taylor. "His liome was in Liverpool and his wife and five children lived there. Watson w:is born in Glasgow." Accused pleaded not guilty and "was aommitted to tlie iSuprenie Court for - 1 trial.