ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER. One Negro Shot by Another. (From the Auckland "Star," Jan. 5.)

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 84, 10 January 1885, Page 6

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER. One Negro Shot by Another. (From the Auckland "Star," Jan. 5.)

An occurrence of a most sensational character happened in Darby-street between eight and nino o'clock last night. Queau-streot was thronged will* people at the time, and passsors-by were astonished and alarmed to hear several pistol shots in quick succossion. The cause was apparent. One negro was running up the street as if oager to make his escape, while he was pursued by another colourod man, ovidently intent upon the infliction of sevore punishment ou hiscountryman. Sevoral people proceeded to interfere, and a man named Hartford, a gastittei* living in Queen-stroot, caught the prisoner by the shoulder. Finding, however, that he had a rovolver in his hand, Hartford lob him go, and ho made his escape. The other nogvo also disappeared. Tho shots had beon heard by several members of the polico force, and they were engaged in an investigation into the causo when Constable Lamb met the man who had been shot ai coming up Qaocn-strcot. He was covered with blood, and a companion explained that ho "was seriously wounded. From tho statoment made to the constable, it appeared that the name of the man is Thomas Brown, and that ho keeps a restaurant and baths at tho wharf. Ho said that he had tea at Frank's restaurant in Darby-street with his assailant, whose name is John Brown, and who is tho proprietor of the coffoo stall under tho Theatre ftoyal verandah.

A Suddon Attaeic. Thomas Brown further stated to the constable that they wore both sober and had no quarrel. John Brown loft half-an-hour before him. On coming out of tho restaurant he noticed John Brown walking up and down in front of tho promises. At the corner of Darby-street they met, and John exclaiming : ."You , I havo been waiting for you," drew tho revolver and fired. Tho first bullet entered his breast, the second shot missed, and the third took effect in his side : a fourth shot was fired aftor him as ho ran up Victoria-street. It was quito ovidont that his condition required immediate medical attention, and he was taken by Constable Lamb and Detectives Hughes and Walker to Dr. Dawson's residence. The examination disclosed the fact that one bullet had entered the fleshy part of the breast, and that its further progress had been stopped by the breastbone. It was extracted without difficulty. The second bullet had passed over the first falso rib on the left side, and penetrating through the body, had gone out at the man's back. Dr. Dawson dressed his wounds and advised his removal to the Hospital, whither he was taken by Detective Hughes, He was attended after his admission by Dr. Bond, who considered it desirable that he should be kept very quiet.

Arrest of the Prisoner. Hartford made a statement to the police respecting the scene he had witnessed, and from the description which he gave it was concluded that the would-be murderer was John Brown. Constable Howies and Hartford therefore proceeded to his residenco in Abercrombie-stroot, and, finding the objoct of their search thore, he was identified by Hartford, and taken into custody by the constable. He admitted that he had shot at Thomas Brown, but said he did it only for the purpose of frightening him. He was asked tor the weapon with which ho had fired, uhcu ho«aid, "I have it here," and proceeding to a drawor, produced a revolver which smelt strongly of powder, and had evidently been discharged only a short time previously. Thero wero no cartridges in any of the chambers. Brown further stated that after tho affray ho proceeded down High stroet in the direction of the Police Station, but then changed his mind, and retracing \ his steps, proceeded to his house in Abercrombie-street. Constable McConnell had in the meantime followed Constablo llowles to Brown's place, and the j prisonor was then removed to tho Police Station by the two officers. j

Causo of the Affray. Very little light has been thrown on the i cause of the affray. Thomas Brown stated j to Constable Lamb when he met him < that he had no idea why he had been assaulted. It appears, however, that some bad blood has been caused between the parties in connection with a business matter. The circumstances are these :— Some three or four weeks ago, the prisoner arranged tho sale of his coffee>tall to a man named Johsnton, who paid a deposit of £10. Eight days afterwards Johnston asked for his money back, as he did not wish to take over the stall. The reason assigned for backing out was that he bad purchased Thomas Brown's business in Elliott- street. Prisoner mado a refund of .£5, and since then lias been very cool with his erstwhile bosom friend Thomas. This is one explanation of the mystery, but there is reason to believo that jealousy is the real cause, and that there is a woman at the bottom ot the whole affair. The prisoner was brought up at the Police Court to-day and remanded for eight days. The wounded man is said to be in a bad btato in the Hospital, and it is problematical whether ho will recover.