TRAGEDY AT AUCKLAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 9, 1 October 1880, Page 2

TRAGEDY AT AUCKLAND.

A FIJIAtf KILLS A MAN AND WOUNDS TWO BOYS. Auckland, 27th September. At ten o'clock tonight a Fijian attempted to murder, with an axe, two sons of Mr Thomas Wilcott, aged 11 and 14 years. Mr Wilcott lately arrived from Fiji, and the Fijian had been in his service seven years. The youngest lad, Gibson Wilcott, w--ceived a dangerous gash four inches in length, extending {torn his temple to the crown of his bead, and the other lad was struck a blow on the neck and on the face with the axe, but is not dangeiously injured Another lad, named bandry, and the servant girl attempted to stop the ruffian from decamping when the alarm was given ; but he threatened Sandry with the weapon and threw a brickat the head of the girl, which, fortunately, missed her. He then fled, retaining possession of the axe, and has not been 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, Sub-Inspector Pardy taking charge of the mounted men and scouring the district, while the Superintendent took charge of the men on foot and surrounded iho cemetery, in which the Fijian was supposed to be secreted, a surmise which proved incorrect. Information was obtained which went to s'.iow that the Fijian was seen at 11 o'clock passing the Eden Vine Hotel going away from 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 Edan Vine Hotel, with a clean out on the back of his skull about an inch in width, which musthave been instautaneously fatal. The milkman reported th>3 matter to the police, and investigation disclosed that the murdered man's name is Edward liace, who resided with his wife and _ family on the New North Koad, near Morningside. It is surmised that last night he and the Fijian must have encountered each other, and the Fijian must have crept noiselessly behind him and- dealt him a fatal blow from behind. This morning the Fijian made his appearance in the Mount Albert district, and news has ju3t been received that after felling a washerwoman, near the house of Mr Melville, man" ager for Messrs lirown and Camp* bell, breaking her arm, the Fijian made off, hotly pursued. He was eventually captured, and is now on his way to the police station. 2 p.m. The native is from Api, New Hebridies, the tribe to which he belongs being one of the most savage races in the South Sea Islands. He asked the people where he was stopping to buy him an axe yesterday. His excuse id that his head yesterday was all in a whirl, and there is no doubt he had been drinking. The boy injured has little chance of re* covery. The brain is protruding. FUBTHEE PARTICULARS. j This savage Joe came to Auckland with Wilcott from Fiji in the Meg Merriles a month ago. He is 25 years of age, small built, and a miserable specimen of humanity. i John Thurston, of Fiji, states he I belongs to the most treacherous and? murderous tribe in the New Heb- ' j rides Group. After reaching the 1 police-cell a loaf of bread was given to him, and he tore it with his teeth like a ravenous wild beast. Mr Wilson, who speaks Fiji, wen 1 ; in and spoke to him, and succeeded in making him understand generally the purport of the questions. While speaking he rolled his head from side to side, gnawing the bread, all the time, and the substance of his replie3 was that white people knocked him about, and that his head yesterday was swinging round, and he did not know what was the matter with him. There is little doubt he had been drinking with some other Fiji boye. f