STABBING AFFRAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3903, 5 February 1929, Page 2

STABBING AFFRAY.

Auckland, February 2. J. F. Murphy, the bo’sun of the American steamer, Golden State, was rushed to hospital shortly after midday. The steamer was to sail for Wellington at noon and the afternoon watch had just sat down to dinner, when the bo’sun was stabbed as lie sat at the head of the table. He managed to stagger into the alleyway and the officers held one of those present until the arrival of the police. The police arrested Robert White Lanier, aged 20, a negro from Jersey City, who worked his way out on the steamer in the hope of joining the Byrd Antarctic expedition.

FEARED ATTACK BY BO’SUN. Auckland, Last Night. Further details of the stabbing affray on the American steamer Golden 'State show that the bo’sun, John F. Murphy, had just sat down to dinner when he was stabbed. An eyewitness said Robert White Lanier, a negro boy, who acted as messroom boy, came in -with a towel over his left shoulder. His right hand was hidden under the towel. Murphy got to grips with Lanier after being stabbed but Lanier broke away. ' iOonllicting stories are told regarding what led up to the affray. Some say the boy had been made too much fuss of on} account of his intention to join the Byrd expedition and others say he had received provocation during the voyage and that there was bound to he trouble when blacks and whites were combined in a crew. It is understood Lanier admitted to 'Captain Skjellerup that he obtained a butcher’s knife which he had carried about all morning. He said he got it from the galley, as lie feared an, attack from the bo’sun. Detective-'Sergeant McHugh arrested him. The condition of Murphy was reported this afternoon to be improving.