ALLEGED MURDER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 153, 24 March 1920, Page 7

ALLEGED MURDER

TROUBLE ON THE ARMAGH

STOREKEEPER FATALLY INJURED

SHIP'S FIREMAN ARRESTED

As the result of a disturbance which occurred on board the Union' Company's •steamer Armagh, lying at tho Glasgow Wharf, about half-past 7 Inst evening, Robert M'Nab, aged 29 years, and single, storekeeper of the steamer Waikawn, also belonging to tho Union' Company, was fatally injured. . It appears that a fireman on the Armagh narned Collins had been paid oft', nnd -that M'Nab went across from Urn Railway' Wharf, at which the AVaik.iwu is berthed, to assist him -ashore with his luggage. When Jl'Nib reached the head of the Armagh's 'midships gangway, two men, who were not .members of tho crew,. were standing oh 'the deck. It is stated that when' Collins came along, one of these men struok him on the mouth, dislodging somo of his teeth, and knocking him down. As Collins got up, STNab stepped,in between him and his assailant to prevent further trouble. Suddenly M'Nab was felled to the -deck, and it is asserted that as he was lyins there he was kicked \ three times, M'Nab made no effort to rise, and it was at uico seen that something was tho matter with him One of tho eye-witnesses of the occurrence, , a member. • of the crew of the steamer Kent, who intended joining- the Armagh, thereupon telephoned for the police, nnd Dr. Faulkowas also summoned! On arrival »t tho Armagh. Dr. Faulke examined M'Nah. ,nut could only pronounce life to lie extinct, and, about half-past eight, the body was removed, to the Morgue in tin Harbour Board's ambulance.

In the meantit\i.e, the two mon who were standing on the deck of the Armagh when M'Nab went on board walked oshore, and 'efforts to trace their whe.-e----nbpnts were instituted by Acting-Detective Tricklebank and Anderson,' nF the Wharf Police. Inquiries were mad* at several hoardinghouses in the' city, and shortly before half-past eleven the two police officers .arrested a ship's fireman named Benjamin Henry Bright .at n lodgrnghouse 'in Upner Willis' Street. Bright:, who was in bed at the time, was .immediately conveyed to the Central Police 'Station, where he was charged with having murdered M'Nab. He will be brought before.the Magistrate's Court this morning.' ■ ■.

. The deceased M'Nab was a native of Paisley, Glasgow, and • joined the. Warkawa as storekeeper at Newcastle-on-Tyno on November 1, 1919. He was stated :by his shipmates'to have been a man of' quiet, sober habits,'and extremely well liked. He had visited the Dominion in a, seafaring capacity on a number rf previous occasions.