ON THE HIGH SEAS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1924, Page 1

ON THE HIGH SEAS.

SEA MAN MURDERED. SVDNEV. 0.1. 17. Full thfiaiis of the murder of John .Imoli, a seaman on the steamer I rewoi'las, while she was oil the v< is age from Ocean Island to Newcastle. »m October 7th. was given at. the coroner's impi.-sl. held at Nevca-th- Ibis week. ('apt. Wooleott. master of the vessel, staled that at I p.m. on the alterno.in of October 7th. lie was called on (leek, and found Jacob lying by the bunker wimfii, bleeding copiously from wounds in till' back, lie was groaning, and .lied twenty minutes later. An : M •* prentice named Karkeck pointed to a greaser name.! Me.li Doran, saving. ‘•That's the man.” Doran denied the ae.nsat ion. and said: “1 know nothing. I got no knife.” A careful search of the ship was made, hut no knife was found. Doran, a smart looking Indian, was v.-ry self-pose, sell in court. and gave his*evidence through an int -rproler. “Titov are I. filing lies about me." lm loll! the corner. “Hod almighty knows oil about it (looking towards the ceil-

ing') ; I swear by the .dost Highest I no kill him.” According to further remarks ol Captain Wooleott, Jacob had complained before his death that Doran intendod to stab- him with a knife, but though a search was made at the time Doran was not possessed of a kmlo. “I AM AFRAID OF NO MAN!” Stewart Temple, third engineer, who at one time wanted Doran to shake hands and lie friends with bis enuntrymnn, Jacob, told the coroner that the former would have nothing of the suggestion. “T will fix- him live and bye.” Doran replied, at the same time making a stabbing action with bis baud. “F am afraid of no man. T fear only my Hod.” The only wlilie man who actually witnessed anything of the tragedy was Daniel Freeman, a seaman. He said lie was on the port side of the ship, amidships, when he saw Doran and .liit-ob standing close together, apparently arguing. Fight, belts sounded at the time. He beard a veil, and looking nft. saw Jacob running to starboard. while Doran ran In moot him. He lost sight of them for a lime, hut presently he saw Jacob emerge from the forecastle scuttle, running with Ins hands over his head. Doran was at his heels, carrying a knife about 18in. long in his left 'hand. His arm was bent, as though he had iusi struck. Jacob

stnjroered towards Freeman and collapsed on tlu* dock. Aecnrdin" to tko evidence of T>r Leslie. tlu* blocks were struck liv a ri"htlianded man. thoimb Freeman stated Unit 'Doran was holding tin* knife in bis left band when be saw bini. BTABIIED SEVENAD TIDIES. Amin film. anotbor Indian, said he saw tbe two men seiifflino oil tlio deck. Jacob threw Doran to tlie deck, but not lie fore be bad been stablied with tbo knife. “While be was boldine tlio Indian down Abdul Tfainil eame on tbe scene, picked up the knife, and stabbed Jacob several times in tlie back. Another link was added to _ tbe chain of evidence by Chief Encincer Itule, who stated that Jacob bad complained to him that Doran was "oine to stab him. . After tlie stabbing Doran was plpcou in tbo lamp room, and two days later be asked to see one of the seamen named Forbes. To bin. bo is «,Hoped t« have made a confession. 1 I son > bn wl.at I did.” be said. ‘‘l only put one wound in the side. Alhl.il Hamid did tbe rest.” 1 Doran and Abdul TTamid were oom- ' mitted for trial on a charge of murder.