THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 233, 1 October 1880, Page 4

THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

MUfIDEBS BY A FIJIAN. (Auckland Herald, Sept. 28.) One of the roost atrocious and diabolical attempts at murder was perpetrated at about a quarter to 9 o'clock last evening, almost in the heart of the pity, under the following circumstances. Mr Edward Thomas Willcott, with his son, arrived from Fiji about four weeks ago, and they were accompanied by a Fijian native, who had been in the service of the family for about seven years. He was looked upon as faithful j end peaceable, and up to the time of the diabolical occurrence which we have to relate his conduct has been exemplary. It apnears that between 8 and 9 o'clock Mr Willcott's sons, with two. friends — named Rankey — were in a room in Mr Sankey'a house playing a game at cards. The Fijian onme into the room. Nothing peculiar was noticed in his manner, and conversation went on, when suddenly the Fijian whieked from bis side an axe, with which he made a desperate stroke at Gibson Willcott, a boy 11 years of age, inflicting a dangerous gasbffour inches in length, extending from his temple to the crown of his head in a diagonal direction. Not content with so much devilry, he struck at one of the Sarkeyi, but, fortunately, in his fury he did not guide the weapon to deadly purpose. He struck one blow on the back of the neck, inflicting a bruise, and the second was on the face, apparently with the side of the weepon, but it oaused a severe contusion and swelling. The screams of the lads alarmed the family, but the Fijian decamped, carrying the axe with him. One lad who attempted to stop him, be threatened with the axe, end a servant girl who came on the scene be threw a brick at, fortunately without effect. The lad Sankey ran down Queenetreet, and informed Constable Foreman of what bad taken place in a somewhat incoherent style, but the con•table went with (he lad, and seeing ! the state of affairs, he ran post haste for medical assistance. Dr Hooper was fortunately foond, and he came immediately. He made a careful examination of the wound, and considers the case very serious. Constable Gordon, in plain clothes, was in company with Constable Foreman, and both officers made every effort to follow up the miscreant, who was traced as far as the junction of Symonds-street and Karangahape Road where the boys lost Bight of him. Upon reporting to headquarters, the available force wes sent out in search of the Fijian, Superintendent Thomson and Inspector Pardy taking charge of the party.' It is a curious coincidence that, shortly before ' (he attack, Constable Gordon, who, as already stated, was in plain olothes, and standing near . Wellesley-street corner, saw the black man walking up the street with the axe in his hand, and, as he was apparently endeavouring to conceal it, he became suspicious, and called the attention of Constable Foreman, the policeman on duty, to the fact. By arrangement between them Gordon intercepted him, while Foreman followed up; but he gave a satisfactory account of his residence and business, and was allowed to pass on. He did Dot appear intoxicated or excited. The axe was an ordinary squaring one, with a wide blade and a handle about a foot in length, and bad been used by the Fijian for chopping firewood small. Search has been made for this axe, but

it is now mis Bin?, und it evidently is the weapon with whioh the attack wbs made. No porsible reason cnn be assigned for the conduct of the savage; The boys were even in conversation with him while he was apparently watching his opportunity to strike! The house occupied by Mr Sankey is a a'one two-storey build'ng, situated in Rokeby-street, which leads to the leffj off Upper Queen-street, above the hoarding end bridge. Mr Wilicott, who is a settler in s Fijij arrived in Auckland about four weeks ago with his son and the. Fijian for the purpose of buying sheep, &c, snd during his etay here has resided at Mr Sankey 'a house. He brought this par< tioular Fijian, Joe, with him because of his trustworthy and steady character, to assist him in taking care of the stock, aud the lad whom the Fijian so savagely attacked was always a particular favorite' of his. Mr Willcott cat) only account for the aesault on the supposition that, Joe fell in with some of his fellow countrymen and pro-j cured drink, and that it so far affected his mind that he could not resist the impulse to run a muck of destruction; He seems to have at all events never taken into his bead the chances of escape, for he is an utter Btranger in this country, and has a very meagre knowledge of English, and indeed hae do chance whatever to calculate on, so that he will be no doubt captured to day. Ihere is, we believe only one Fijian living at Kohimarama, in wbicbj neighbourhood the police recently bad so much difficulty in capturing the Fijian Simor>, Bad be will be looked after. We may add that the axe which the native was supposed to have taken with him was, at a later period of the night] found, not in its cußtotrary place near the wood pile, but close to the back door. He may bave Hung it therej after the deed, as it is hardly possible to tbink he could have returned with ii after running up the street. Joe is said to be about twenty-five years ol age, and it is fctated that be looks older than (haf. LATEB. The Fijian who attempted to murder the son of his master in Upper Queen-; street, on Monday night, and escaped; succeeded in evading the police who attempted to surround him, and got on to the New North Eoad, evidently' taking a track from the cemetery through Newton, probably coming put on the road near the New North Eoad brewery. Be. must have lain quietly somewhere until towards morning, and then proceeding along the road he irief a man named Eees, a farm laborer,' residing in the district, and attacked him with a tomahawk opposite Mr.; Baker's gate. At all events Kees' dead body was found there at an early hour this morning, frightfully- muti-: lated, tho head being cleft open in several places, evidently with an axd or tomahawk. The body was quite warm when found, so that the crimd was quite a recent one. Subsequent events clearly pointed to the fact that the murder was perpetrated by the Fijian, but what the object could hav6 been is not apparent. The scoundrel] leaving his victim on the road, proceeded to Mount Albert, and at seven o'clock this morning called into Mri Melville's house. He demanded food; but the] washerwoman, who was the) only person about at the time refused! He then attacked her in a most savage manner, and inflicted several ugly wounds, but her screams alarmed Mr;

Melville. He took in the situation at a glance, and presenting a loaded revolver at the scoundrel, called on him to surrender, which he did. Mr. Melville's men secured his captive, roping and tying him effectually, and he submitted on the vi hole quietly. Word was then sent to the police who went out and took charge of the murderer. At half-past eleven o'clock, Mr. ' 0. Stone, who lives at Mount Albert;, drove in the Fijian in his buggy. There were four occupants — in front, Mr. Stone and Sub-Inspector Pardy, behind Detective Jeffrey and the iPijiau. A grsat crowd of boys ran alongside the vehicle. A. mob had also assembled at the Police Office, all eager to catch a glimpse of the human tiger whose deeds of blood bad so startled the city. The Fijian was manacled and his arms were fastened to the buggy. He is under-sized even for a Fijian, who are usually short of stature. Bh features are also somewhat heavy, but show no exceptional sign of ferocity or crime. When he was brought into the guardroom it was noticed that his hands were deeply cut and bleeding. He rubbed the blood off and squeezed the wounds but there wss no. .expression of pain upon his features. He looked round him somewhat stolidly and did not attempt to utter a syllable. MB. C. STONB'S BTA.Ti.ME ST. - Mr. Stone says :— At half-past six o'clock this morning, I was called by Mr. Pardy, who informed me of "what had taken place, and asked me to search around the neighbourhood. I. did so at once, but found nothing wrong. Some time afterwards, I was told that a cranky black man had been captured at Mr. Melville's.- Knowing the circumstances that had taken place, although Mr. Melville did not, I went to the house, and found the Fijian tied up. Mr. Melville informed me that the black man had come into his "house, and asked him for something, but he did not know what. He did not pay much attention to him. The Fijian then went^out into the yard and Mr. Melville thought no more of it, believing that he was "cranky." The Fijian, however, must have lifted .the axe, for. Mr." Melville ■ heard Mrs;' McßrideV who was washing in the yard, scream out, Mr. Melville snatched up' a, revolver and covered the man, when he surrendered. Before ttiat, however, he' struck at Mr. Melville with the axe, the'handle of which was broken against a billet of wood. THE MUBDEBEB CONFESSES. Several times during the drive in; the Fijian said ; "Me kill, me kill I" On passing the pool of blood near Mr. Baker's gate, where poor Bees had been murdered, Mr. ? Stone asked the, Fijian if he knew anything about it, or ! at least made him understand that was hisquestion. The Fijian briskly replied, "Yes, me kill!" Mr; Stone asked "How?" and Joe answered by making blows at the back of his neck. < TUB MTJfIDEBED MAW RBES. Reep, who was so foully murdered, was 42 years of age, and lived at Mornihgside. He arrived jn Auckland about thirteen months ago, by the ship Famenoth, with his wife and three daughters. He has been working with his| nephew, John R3dshaw, in . a boiling down establishment, but for some time recently has been out of employment. He left h^me at 7.30 last night for the purpose of meeting his wife, who was in town on business, but missed her, and the next thing she heard was that a man had been found murdered on the North Road. From the description she knew that it was her bus band, for her informant said he wanted a fingqr.