MURDERS AT AUCKLAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2058, 28 September 1880, Page 3

MURDERS AT AUCKLAND.

[PBB PBESB ASSOCIATION BPF.OIA U WIBB.} AUOKLAND, September 27. At ten o'clock tonight a Fijian attempted to murder with an axe the two sonß of Mr Thos. Willcott, aged eleven and fourteen years. Willcott lately arrived from Fiji, and the Fijian had been in his Bervice for seven years. The youngest lad, Gibson Willcott, received a dangerous gash four inches in length, extending from his temple to the crown of his head. The other lad received a blow on the nock and face with tbe axe, but is not dangerously wounded. Another lad named Sandrys and the servant girl attempted to stop the ruffian while decamping when the alarm was given, but be threatened Sandrys with the weapon and threw a brick at the head of the girl, which fortunately missed her. He then fled, retaining possession of the axe, and hag not boon captured by the police. There are no hopes of the youngest lad surviving. September 28. After the murderous assault by the Fijian last night, the police started in pursuit, Pardy taking charge of the mounted men, and scouring tbe district, while the Superintendent took charge of the men on foot, and surrounded the oemetory, in which the Fijian was supposed to be secreted. The surmise proved inoorreot. Information wss then received that the Fijian had been seen at eleven o'clock passing Eden Vine Hotel, going away from the town. This morning a milkman, named Matthew Crawford, residing near Mount Albert, found the body of a man lying on the road some distance from the Eden Vine Hotel, with a olean cut on the back of his skull about an inch in width, which must have been instantaneously fatal. The milkman reported the matter to the police, and investigation disclosed that the murdered man's name is Edward Rice, who resides with his wifo and family on the New North road, near Morningeide. It is surmised that last night he and the Fijian must have met, and the Fijian must have crept noiselessly behind him and dealt the fatal blow from behind. This morning the Fijian made his appearance in the Mount Albert district. News has just been received that, after felling a washerwoman near Merville's, who manages for Brown and Campbell, and breaking her arm, tbe Fijian made off, hotly pursued, and was eventually captured, and is now on his i way to the police station. I