THE REIDSTON AFFRAY.

Evening Star, Issue 4008, 30 December 1875, Page 3

THE REIDSTON AFFRAY.

(-no John M'Evoy came to an. untimely end on Christmas morning under tho following circumstances .Seveud men. some of whom were boarder*, w ere assembled at tho Modora Hotel, Kcidslon, at about ten o’clock on the morning of that day, when words occurred between MIE voy and one “Dublin Jack,” who appears to have been in a very quarrelsome mood, and the two men named went into tho paddock at the rear of the hotel to fighrtt oat. "Word was sent to the landlord, Mr W. MTvny, who was in an inner room m-king up hia accounts, that some of the men had gone out to fight, and ho immediately went out to put a stop to the proceeding. On getting outside he found that his wife had preceded him and had already separated the combatants, and w.n: cmica voting to pavuadc one of them to go away. Subsequently, however, they came to blows, M'Evoy knocking bis opponent down. Another nmn named Malone was then in the act of shipping to go into tho row, but Mr M'Kay pulled his shirt over his head again and pushed him away. While this was going on, M'Evoy w,.s endeavoring to make Dublin Jack rise to confront him, and appeared to hare been about to kick or st ike him as he lay, when .a young Scotchman named Andrew Black, about twenty-live years of age, wltojwas standing by, run.nistra.ted, telling M'Evoy to leave tho man alone and take no notice of him, as he was iu liqnor. Thereupon M'Evoy went up to Black, and asked him if he wanted to take the other’s place, and Black replied that he did not wish to, but that if he did, he (M'Evoy) might not get off s» easily as ho did with “ that man l here ” M'Evoy: etorted with a blow, striking 1 Hack full in the faeo. The latter returned it, knocking M‘Evoy down, the blow striking him in the chest or lower down the body. M'Evoy got up and came on again, and Black, who by tins time had thrown off his coat, after the < xchange of two or three blows, knocked him down a second time by a blow iu the face. M'Evoy then lay so still that > it was thought he was stunned, but for a minute or so the bystanders fully expected evciy moment to see him rise; bu: fiudieg that lie rn.de no moveman t some alaim was felt, and ammonia was placed under his nostrils, a little brandy iu his mouth, and oil er meins tiled to Iningback consciousness. But lb; effort Was unavailing, and messengers were despatched for the doctor (Dr Smith) and the police ; M'Evoy in the meantime being removed into the stable, out of the hot rays of the sun. Here in less than ten minutes after receiving the blow he expired. Constable Henderson arrived shortly after the occurrence, and arrested Blue!;, who seemed to feel his position acutely, weeping bitterly Deceased, who was a native of Ireland, and about thirty-eix yeais of age, was a strongbuilt man, about oil. lOhn in height, and had been working for nearly a fortnight for Messrs Fanning and Co., sub contractors on the railway works, who informed us that ho had mentioned that not very long ago ho had been severely crushed by n fall of earth upon him while engaged in navvy work. He is believed to have been a single man, and it is said has a brother in Christchurch. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict to the followingeffect : —“That the deceased came to bis death through a blow received from Andrew Black, but the jury consider that the latter acted under extreme provocation, and they desiie to recommend him to the humane consideration of the Court.”—•' N, 0. Times.’