FIERCE FIGHT BETWEEN. PORTUGUESE.
AXK AND HEAVY STICK AS WEAPONS. Wlianga-rei, Noveiu. 13. Details of the violent fracas in the Motatuu district vary in several respects from the first report. The police and a doctor relumed late la-l night, after a strenuous journey, involving a 12-mile ride from Aloliiliiu station to the scene of the (nunhat, which was in dense bush. The men concerned are i’ortugiicse, .John Grapani and Desidero Diaz, formerly sailors on the vessel Cecelia Sadden, which was burned near the Great Barrier about three years ago. They took up residence with the Maoris. Diaz later marrying a Maori woman. Diaz stated to the police that Gi apaiii returned to the whiire ill an intoxicated state on Tuesday night, seiz'ed an axe and threatened to kill Diaz and his wife. Grapani struck a ferocious blow at Diaz, clipping off part of one ear and inflicting minor ilesh wounds on the chest. Diaz grappled with his assailant, wresting the axe from him. He then picked up a heavy rat si stick, and struck Grapani four times on the head, fracturing his skull and rendering him unconscious. Diaz then proceeded to tie up Grapani and I, ft him lying outside. During the night Grapani freed himself from his -bonds and crawled back i\to the whore, and got on to a hunk, where lie wsis again bound by Maoris. The police party yesterday afternoon had considerable difficulty in conveying the wounded man on horseback over (lie rough bush trail to where motor cars were awaiting, then being completed to Whangarei Hospital where Grapani lies in a very precarious condition. He is expected to succumb to his injuries. Diaz was not placed under arrest, apparently having acted in selfdefence.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2811, 15 November 1924, Page 2
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287FIERCE FIGHT BETWEEN. PORTUGUESE. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2811, 15 November 1924, Page 2
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