SLASHED WITH RAZOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1938, Page 9

SLASHED WITH RAZOR

SEAMAN SEVERELY WOUNDED ASSAILANT SENT TO GAOL Charged with assaulting another member of the crew and desertion from the Rangitata at Bluff, Timothy James Douney, aged 28, appeared in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington yesterday before Mr J. G. Hewitt, S.M. Sub-Inspector A. D. McLean conducted the police prosecution. It was stated by the police that Douney, who was a fireman on the ship, had a difference with another member of the crew with then Rangitata was at Bluff on March 19. When he was settling this matter John Henry Bowes, another member of the crew interfered. Bowes later went down to the engine-room to continue his work, but he was followed by Douney. After some discussion Douney started to dim bthe ladder from the engine-room and Bowes climbed another stair beside him. Doui?ey turned and slashed at Bowes with a safety razor, cutting his face from the eye to the chin. “The first that I knew about being cut was when the blade of the razor broke and tinkled on the floor,’ said Bowes in evidence.

After assaulting Bowes Douney packed his clothes and left the ship. The magistrate: Is this man just charged with assault? A slash with a razor blade is as bad a kind of assault as I can think of.

Sub-Inspector McLean: It is a bad case and we want him sent back to England as soon as possible. The magistrate: An ordinary assault is bad enough, but when a man comes along with a razor blade and attacks another man that is outside everything. If he did not cut this man’s head off it is only good luck. Douney was convicted on both charges. He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment on the assault charge and six weeks’ for desertion of the ship.