STABBING ALLEGED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1188, 25 July 1911, Page 10

STABBING ALLEGED.

FRACAS ON BARQUE HUNCEAG. 'ACCUSED COMMITTED. ..As the result of the disturbance on the Norwegian barque Duucrag on Friday night, Julius .lorgeuscn appeared on remand, charged with, assaulting Charles

Swanson in such n manner as to cause him actual bodily harm. Sub-Inspector sheehan conducted the prosecution. Jorgensen was not represented by counsel. Charles Swanson, wharf labourer, deposed to secing ; .lui-gensen "on .-Friday night in the siulmaker's room on the Duncrag. Jle (witness) was talking tn a couple of friends when, siiddenly, and without warning, Jorgensen struck him Ihreo blows with some weapon.- The blows "half dazed" him and he did not remember any more until tho doctor came. No had-made arrangements to ship by the Duncrag. 'Io Jorgensen: lie deuicd being orderal out of the forecastle, or being told "to go home." He was not drunk.

Dr. C. T). jlenry, wlio was called to tho barque on Friday night', doseril>ed the wounds and the attention thereto.

John Johansen, steward on tiie barque -Duncrag, said that ho had seen Jorgetison stnko Swanson Iwico with a knife. Witness had informed the master of tho vessel of tho occurrence, and the latter , took charge of. accused., The row had, begun through Jorgensen ordering Swanson out of the room, and then punching him with his bare hand and finally striking liim with a knife.

Arthur liottmann, sailor on the Duncrag, remembered being on watch on Friday night last, and had seen Jorgensen striko Swanson once with a knife, but' knew of no reason why he should have done so. Afterwards, Jorgensen had thrown Swanson out of the forecastle and then tho mate "got some irons, and took charge' of accused." Captain I'. M. Pcdersen, master of tho barque Duncrag, deposed to seeing accused strike tho last blow at Swanson. After the row accused wished to follow Swanson up, but witness had pushed him back into the cabin, and had followed him in. Accused then picked up his knife, and turned round, and witness immediately seized him, and, with tho assistance of the mate, placed the handcuffs on him. Constable Tait, who arrested Jorgensen, also gave evidence. When he charged accused, the latter was talking in a language that he (tho constable) "could not understand." , Jorgensen, on being formally charged, stated that ho had used the. knife because Swanson. had caused trouble in the forecastle, where Swanson had no right to be. His Worship observed that ho would tako that as a plea of not guilty, and Jorgensen was accordingly committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the sum of ..£6O, and two sureties of .£3O each. HOESE ILL-TEEATED. David Andrews, contractor, was charged with cruelly ill-treating a horse on May 29 by permitting it to be worked while it was in ill-health. Henry Rudman, an employee of defendant, was also charged with working the horso while in ill-health. Mr. E. J. Webb appeared for the S.P.C.A., and Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon for both defendants, who pleaded not guilty. Both cases_ wero taken together. Evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that the horso had been discovered in work on the afternoon of May 29, while it was lame. Its lameness was duo to ■ringbone, and it was unfit to work. It had been subsequently destroyed by defendant. For the defence it was contended that tho horse had been suffering from "sidebone," not "ringbone," and that its lameness had been merely stiffness duo to the fact that it would not lie down in the stable. It had only just been brought in after twelve months' spell, and, tho occasion when it was seen by the inspector was the first time that it had been worked since the spell. It then had only a light load. It was contended that the-exercise was "calculated to do it good."

His Worship considered • that both defendants must bo convicted. Andrews was lined 405., with costs 95.,. .and solicitor's feo .01 Is. Eudman was fined 205., without costs. Default,was fixed at seven days' imprisonment in .both cases, ' . MAINTENANCE. Percy James Fleming was ordered to pay 255. per week.towards the support of his wife and child, and also to pay .£2 2s. solicitor's fee. Mr. C. E. Dix appeared for the complainant. "■ :■• INSOBKIETY. John Henry Brookes, with numerous previous convictions against him, pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness, and to a farther charge of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order in force against him. He was declared a habitual inebriate, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Predk. Alexr. John P/anahy did not appear to answer charges of drunkenness, and of procuring liquor during tho currency of a prohibition order. Tor tho first offence he was fined 205., with the option of 48 hours' imprisonment, and, for the second offence, lie was fined 405.,. tho alternative being seven days' imprisonment. John Calvert, for drunkenness, was fined 205., .in default seven.' days' imprisonment. Patrick Dwycr, charged with helpless drunkenness, "was remanded for a week for medical treatment. Two first-offending inebriates, who did not appear, were ordered to forfeit their bail (Ws. each), in default 21 hours' imprisonment. Three other first offenders were convicted and discharged.

John Priest, who admitted being found drunk while in charge of a horse and vehicle in Constable Street, was fined 205,, the alternative being seve.,ll day's imprisonment