Negro Boy Faces Charge of Assault

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 579, 4 February 1929, Page 1

Negro Boy Faces Charge of Assault

AFFRAY ON STEAMER

BO’SUN NOT IN DANGER

Robert White Lanier, the “Smiling South Pole Boy,” who was arrested following the stabbing affray on the Golden State at midday on Saturday, was Ln the Polioe Court this morning. \A charge of assaulting the boatswain, John F. Murphy, and causing actual bodily harm, was made against Lanier, who is a young negro. He wasremanded to appear again on February 11.

For Lanier, Mr. W. W. King asked for bail, but the request was refused by the magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean. Chief-Detective Hammond said that Murphy’s wound was not expected to be dangerous. The boatswain was still in hospital, and it was not known when he would be out. Lanier’s age was given as 20 years and his home state in America was given as Georgia. The affray took place on the Golden State during the serving of the midday meal. Lanier, who is well known for his ambition to join Byrd’s expedition in the Antarctic, allegedly gashed Murphy under the heart with a bowie knife. Detective-Sergeant McHugh made the arrest. Evidence of members of the crew was taken and the vessel left for Wellington soon after 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. Lanier was in the Boy Scout movement in the United States, and has an excellent record. The attack is said to be the climax of trouble between the young negro and Murphy. Fighting is believed to have taken place on the Golden State when Lanier was away on Friday night being entertained in the suburbs. It is said that he stopped away purposely until a late hour to avoid trouble with members of the crew. Lanier’s one absorbing ambition was to join Byrd. He stowed away originally to become associated with the expedition, but was sent back to New York from Panama. Charges were made against Lanier’s character, but he cleared his name. Friends eventually assisted him to sign on as mess-boy on the Golden State. The young negro lived with his sister in Jersey City, and he had a high school education. In Court this morning he showed no agittaion, and was neatly dressed.