CHINESE DIGGER

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1928, Page 3

CHINESE DIGGER

SHOT BY UNKNOWN MAN

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, July 18. Gasping that lie had been shot three times, Joe Shem, a Chinese, whose age is believed to he 48 or 50 years, rushed out of his hut at the Keyhurn Diggings yesterday afternoon to where his mate was cutting wood, and collapsed in tho latter’s arms. Shem died this morning as the result of the murderous assault that was evidently committed upon him. From tho details that have reached tho police district headquartors, it would appear that Shem’s companion, Sue Puc, had gone away to cut wood. A man arrived at their hut at 1 p.m. yesterday, and was given a cup of tea. The man demanded money, hut there was no money in the house. About 3.30 p.m. Shem came rushing after Sue Pue, and called out that he had been shot three times. Sue Pue, at the time, was working about twenty chains from the hut and he carried the wounded man hack to the hut. Then, in fear and trembling, he stayed behind the closed door, afraid to venture out in the dark.

Sue Pue arrived at the Kycburn Hotel this morning hearing the news of the tragedy,‘he having left the body of Shem in the hut about 6 a.m., or several hours before the police arrived. Constable Fox, yof Nasebv, and a doctor, immediately proceeded to the scene, arriving at the hut some time before noon. It was thought that Shorn had been dead four or five hours. There was a bullet in his right arm of .22 calibre. There was another in his throat, and the one that killed him entered below the left breast and passed through the stomach and out through the left thigh.

Kyeburn Diggings is an old gold digging settlement in Araiiiototo, and it is about 106 miles north-west of Dunedin, in the heart of Central Otago. CHINESE AIURDfoR CASE. DUNEDIN, July 19.

Tho man suspected of the murder of Joe ■ Shinn obtained 19 hours’ start, through the murdered man’s Chinese companion being too frightened to carry news till the morning. Robbery find been definitely established as the motive,' for after the shooting Shum’s hut was ransacked by his Assailant, who,had demanded a hundred pounds from him.

The story of the dead man’s mate, Pee; is that about one o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, a man, who bad visited the camp four weeks’ earlier, arrived, and was given a meal. He then said bo was a policeman inquiring about the killing' of another man and the theft of £2OO. Shum was accused by him of this crime. Having ascertained that Shum bad a rifle and ammunition, the visitor picked up a rifle, suggesting lie and Shum go out after rabbits, Pee in the meantime going away wood chopping. Tho latter beard shots then Shum! struggled to him grievously wounded, telling him that the man had said be would kill him unless.be (Sluim) gave him a hundred pounds Shum banded over two ounces of gold, whereupon the murder took place. The man suspected was seen at Ranfurly on Wednesday, where it is alleged two ounces of gold were sold to tho bank. A big police net has been spread throughout tho district.