A Fatal Affray.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 72, 3 October 1890, Page 2

A Fatal Affray.

A European Killed.

WELLINGTON,

September 30.

A fight occurred at the Lower Hutt in the early hours this morning between a number of young men and three or four Chinamen, and resulted in the death of one European and severe injuries to one Chinaman. The particulars as far as are known at present are these :—About midnight some six or eight lads were returning along the road to their homes at the Lower Hutt, and when passing a Chinaman’s house they met three or four Chinamen. In some way or other an altercation ensued, and shortly afterwards a man named Leeves, who is living near by heard cries of murder and help, and at once rushed out. • He, states that by the time he reached the road the row was over, and the parties separated. He found a young man named Thomas James Smith on the road, and as. he appeared faint and was bleeding , profusely, he conveyed him with all haste to Dr Wilfred’s residence at the Hutt, t»ut the young fellow expired almost immediately on arrival. In the meantime the police had been telephoned for, and mounted troopers from Wellington and Petone were sent out, and effected the arrest of three Chinamen named Tom Hung, Young Bin, am} Sam Khy. The last named was in a bad state, being terribly cut about the head. He was conveyed to the Wellington Hospital, where he now lies in a precarious state. The other two were lodged in the lock-up; Smith was twenty-two years of age, and hia people are labouring at the Hutt. An inquest will be held on the body tomorrow. Tom Hung and Young Bin appeared at the Police Court this morning before three Justices, charged with the wilful murder of Smith. They were represented by counsel, and remander for a week. ,

Pantloulaps. In the fight at Petone, both sides seem to have used pieces of scantling, but the Chinamen must have taken to knives as well, as Smith is found to be stabbed in the stomach. The Asiatics have been annoyed for many nights past by a gang of young, fellows interfering with them. The detectives are now out investigating, aud it is expected that‘further arrests will be made. . It is difficult at present to obtain particulars till the participants in the fight are hunted up. Further investigation shows that as six young men were passing the Chinamen’s hut, several celestials rushed out and attacked theui> one haying a knife. The young men took to their heels, but Smith, who had been ill, got left in the rear.. On hearing him cry for help the other five returned to the scene, and a general melee ensued. Smith bled to death. Statement ©ne Present. One of those who took part in the stone-throwing at the Chinaman’s hut at the Lower Hutt, last night, states that the party consisted of Charles F. Hobbs, Henry Bolton, Walter Maidment, William Rouse, Edward England, the deceased, Thomas Smith apd another. They carried out their plans and on being driven away by the Chinamen, the deceased suggested they •should go across the'bridges to the Chinamen they had visited early in the night; no sooner was this said than acted upon. Stones Were thro,wn for nearly five minutes,' and then the Ohiuaipeu sppapg qgt of a hedge where they seemed' to, openin'hiding, and pthe.r of their race joined in. The men rap away, but Sipith fell behind, heiug exhausted, .pwing to p recent illness, and was caught by the Chinaman, Smith oalM out “ Helfp they

are Sticking me,” and Hobbs, Bolton, and Maidment at once ran back, England following closely. They saw Smith lying on his right side, with one Chinaman kneeling on his legs, and another holding his head down; both, it is said, having knives in-their right hands, with which they seemed to be stabbing the prostrate man. Hobbs struck one Chinaman with a heavy slip rail frbrh' the fence of another paddock, and struck another of the Chinamen, evidently the man now in the hospital, across the head and shoulders with it, upon which the Chinaman fan away towards the township. Smith was taken to Dr Wilford’s surgery, where it was discovered he was suffering from a punctured wound on the outer side of the left leg which severed; the . main artery. It was the hemorrhage from this that caused his death. There were also two deep flesh wounds across the left fore arm, not in themselves dangerous.