Stabbing at Maryport. –
At the Cockermouth Police-court, on Monday, William THOMPSON, boatswain of the screw-steamer Esk Holme, of Maryport, was charged with unlawfully cutting and wounding Alexander COLEMAN, second mate of the same vessel, on Saturday night last, on board the Esk Holme, whilst that vessel was lying in the harbour at Maryport. – Mr HEWETSON, of Maryport, appeared for the prosecutor; and Mr PAISLEY, of Workington, for the prisoner. – Alexander Coleman stated that he was on duty on board the Esk Holme, on Saturday night last, the 17^th inst. The prisoner was boatswain of the Esk Holme. Witness went to him and gave him orders to get the shop unmoored, and the prisoner then asked for a glass of rum. Prisoner was drunk. Witness went on with his work, and on passing the prisoner again, he caught him by the coat and said, "Come on, Thompson, don’t be so foolish."
Witness said this because prisoner had not done what he told him. Prisoner then struck at witness, who struck him back. He then wanted to go ashore with his bag, but witness would not let him, and took the bag from him. Prisoner, however, went, but came back again in a quarter of an hour. He went pass (sic) witness and into the wheelhouse. The steward came up to witness and told him that the prisoner wanted him.
Witness went to him and prisoner struck him three or four times with something in his hand, and witness fell on the deck. He struck witness over the head. Witness was bleeding, and the captain and steward took him into the cabin and washed his head. Witness then proceeded to the doctor’s. When witness got to the prisoner, when he sent for him, prisoner said, "You are the b______ I want!"
There were four cuts in his head and one in his hand. – James LITTLE said he was a doctor of medicine at Maryport. The prosecutor was brought to him about half-past twelve on Saturday night last. He had one wound on the forehead about an inch long, incised, and extending transversely. There was one wound on the right cheek, also incised, running in a slanting direction. There were two parallel wounds on the left cheek – one about two and a half inches long, and the other one and a half inches in length – both incised. The longer extended below the lower jaw. There was another wound on the prosecutor’s hand but witness did not examine it. They might have been dangerous wounds if they had been in any other part of the body. The file (produced) might have caused the wounds if used with much force. – Police-sergeant HARTLEY said he was stationed at Maryport. About two o’clock on Sunday morning he saw the prosecutor coming out of Dr Little’s surgery, and from what he was told he apprehended prisoner in a lodging-house in John-street, Maryport. Charged him with cutting and wounding Alexander Coleman, and he replied, "It is false. I struck him, but not with a knife." Prisoner was then locked up and detained. He was the worse of drink at the time.
Witness went on board the Esk Holme with the prosecutor. The place where the affray had taken place was pointed out to him. The deck was covered with blood, and witness found a broken file lying on the deck. There was no blood on the file, but it had been raining hard, and the file was lying in water. Witness searched the prisoner and found a knife in his possession, but there were no marks of blood upon it, and it appeared only to have been used for cutting tobacco. – Mr Paisley applied to have the case adjourned until next Monday, and this was granted. – The prisoner was admitted to bail in his own recognizances of of (sic) £50, and two sureties of £25 each.