SAMOAN SENSATION

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1926, Page 1

SAMOAN SENSATION

CHINESE CONSUL STABBED. [by TELEGRAPH PER PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, September 6. The “Herald’s” Samoan correspondent states:—“A stir in the Samoan community, particularly among the Chinese has been caused by a coolie attacking the Consul for China. Recently tile Consul had been appointed Administrator of the estate of a deceased Chinese free settler. AYliile administering the affairs of the estate, friction occurred between®lhe Consul and one or two coolies. Matters came to a head on August 3th when three coolies entered the store of the deceased settler, and one of the three stabbed the Consul, inflicting two wounds on the chest in the region of the heart.

The assailant and his two friends then bolted, and the Consul was picked up outside the store and taken to the hospital, where his wounds were attended to.

Police inquiries followed and the two coolies were arrested in a few hours, but the third man, who used the knife, could not bo found for some days. Eventually lie gave himself up, admitting that he had made an assault on the Consul and saying he was employed by one, Ng Fu, a well known coolie, and formerly n Chinese policeman, to do the job for a £IOO. Ng Fu was then arrested, and was charged with conspiring with Le Sei, the consul’s assailant, to murder the Consul. The Court refused to convict Ng Ku on the testimony of Le Sei, an accomplice, which was practically uncorroborated. Le Sei was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.