AUCKLAND

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3670, 29 September 1880, Page 2

AUCKLAND

This day. The Outrage ly the Fijian.

Mrs Ewington, wife of a settler living near the scene of the murder of Bees by the Fijian, was passing near the spot on the night of the tragedy with her daughter, and heard sounds of blows and groans. This was about a quarter past nine. Ewingfcon was asked to engage the same Fijian, but having seen him on board the vessel disliked his appearance, and declined to hire him. HIS STATEMENTS. Several times during the drive in, the Fijian said, "Me kill, me kill! " 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 his question. The Fjian briskly replied, " Yes, me kill!" Mr Stone asked "How?" and Joe answered by making blows at the back of his neck. {Subsequently, be said, in the hearing of a gentleman acquainted with the Fiji language, that the boys Sankey and W oolcott had "chaffed" him, saying that the white men would kill the black men as they were killing the Maoris. This affected his mind. He had got a glass of brandy on Monday afternoon; ho became excited, and his head was all in confusion. He determined to kill a while man and they could kill him after* wards if (hey liked. Joe has not the feeblest excuse to offer for the murder of Bees. He said he had not—that he saw a man on the road, and killed him.

He confesses to having had " one glass of brandy." As he confesses to having

committed the murderous assault upon young Woolcott, and killed the man Rees, he will not be prejudiced by any statement he has made as to tbe manner in which these acts were done. He says that he saw Rees going along the road. The night was very dark. Eees did not speak to him,' nor he to Bees. He stoje close up to him and struck him with the axe. The blow must have been delivered with extraordinary force. It indicates the exercise of some cunning to get within sufficient reach to administer a deadly blow with snch unerriug effect. As to the poor child Woolcott, the latest account of him last night was, that being young he may recover. Tbe cut is a clean one, and must have been the effect of a blow struck at a moment when there was not the slightest expectation of such an attack.

THE WOUNDED BOYS. .j We learn that Master Woolcott, the first victim attacked by the savage Fijian, is under the circumstances, in as good a state as could be hoped for. Dr Hooper was more hopeful last night, but the lad's injuries are very seri us. There are chances, however, that he may recover The other lad, Sankey, is not dangerously wounded, and his injuries are of a nature which, although time will be requited to heal them, will not affect his physical health. The inquest takes place at one o'clock to-day. At the Police Court this morning the Fijian was brought up on a charge of murder, and two other charges of assault with intent to kill. He pleaded guilty on all the three charges, and was remanded pending the inquest.