A SERIOUS AFFAIR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2327, 10 March 1892, Page 4

A SERIOUS AFFAIR.

Wellington, March 7. A peculiar affair was reported to the police this afternoon. A middle-aged man named Ole Anderson, who occupied a house in Tory street alone, was found last night lying in bed with his head terribly battered and covered with blood, and his hands cut about as though a knife had been drawn through them. His condition is serious, and he can give no account of what happened, except incoherent muttering about the Salvation Array and a man and woman. He has evidently been murderously assaulted, but robbery does not seem to have been the object, as his watch and chain, some money, and a deposit receipt for £73, were found on him. Later. The man Anderson, found seriously injured on Monday night, has improved since his removal to the hospital. Inquiries by the police elicited the fact that the row had occurred in the vicinity of the Salvation Army barracks, and following up the clue a call was made by the detective at a house near at hand occupied by a laborer named Moore and his wife. Here it was discovered that a fight had taken place between Moore and Anderson, and the former, although not so seriously injured as the man taken to the hospital, had received a considerable mauling, and it is alleged that he had been stabbed several times in the back. From Moore’s statement it appeared that his wife proceeded to a neighboring hotel, and on returning met Anderson, whereupon a conversation took place between them. On her attempting to enter the house Anderson also endeavored to get in, and the disturbance attracted the attention of the husband, who ordered Anderson off the premises, and his wife to come in. Anderson resisted the interference, and a struggle took place between the two men, but Moore finding his assailant too powerful for him, had to retreat inside his house and locked the door. Anderson then smashed the glass panel and unlocked the door, after which a further struggle took place. Moore alleges that he ordered his wife to go for the police, and although she promised to do so, she did not fulfil it. If Moore’s statement is substantiated, it may possibly account for the injuries to Anderson’s hands. Mrs Moore states that when she left the house the men were fighting viciously. March 8. Nothing further has been elicited as to the assault on the man Anderson. The patient is still unconscious and unable to say anything.