MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS AT AUCKLAND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 28 September 1880, Page 2

MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS AT AUCKLAND.

(BY TEIEGBAPHO (per .) Auckland, September 27. At ten o'clock to-night a Fijian Attempted to murder with an axe two sons of Thomas Willcott, aged 11 and 14 years, Mr. \Villoott has lately arrived from Fiji, . and the Fijian had been in his service seven years. The youngest lad, Gibson Willcott, received a dangerous gash four inches in length, extending from his temple to the crown of his head* The other lad was struck a blow on the neck and on the face with the axe, but dangerously. Another lad, named Sandrey, and the_ servant girl, attempted to stop the ruffian while decamping when the alarm was given, but he threatened Sandrey with the weapon and threw a brick at 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 survivi*^

September 28. After th& murderous assault by the Fijian last night, the police started in pursuit. Inspector Pardy taking charge of the mounted men and scouring the district, while Superintendant Thompson took charge ,of the men on foot, and surrounded the cesnetry in whioh the Fijian was supposed to, be secreted. This surmise* however* proved incorrect. Information, w&8 then obtained that the Fijian had been seen at eleven o'clock passing the Eden Vine Hotel going away from the town.

This morning a milkman named Matliew Crawford, residing near Mount Albert, found the body of a man lying on the road some distance from the Eden Yine Hotel with a clean cut on the back of his skull, about an inch in width, which must have been instantaneously fatal. The milkman reported the matter to the police. An investigation disclosed that the muydered man's name is Edward Race, whu resides with his wife and family on 1 the new North Road, near Morningside. It is surmised that last night he and the Fijian must have encountered, and that the Fijian must have crept noiselessly behind him and dea\t the fatal blow from behind. Thia morning the Fijian made his app.eara,uce in the Mount Albert district.

New? hag. Just been received that after felling a washerwoman near Mr. Merville's (manager far Mr. Brown and Campbell), and breaking her arm, the Fijian made off, He was hotly pursued, and was eventually captured, and is now on his way to the police station.

Later. The native murderer is from Opai, New Hebrides, and belongs to 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 i$ that his head yesterday was all in a' whirl, and there is no doubt that he had been'drinking. The boy injured has little chance of i recovery. His brain is protruding.