SCANDINAVIAN AFFRAY AT MAURICEVILLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2896, 11 May 1888, Page 2

SCANDINAVIAN AFFRAY AT MAURICEVILLE.

Murderous Assault.

Last night, the Masterton police • received a telegram from Mauriceyille . vaguely saying: " Stabbing case here; send someone up." Constable Salmon was immediately despatched by Ser- • geant Price, and lie returned this ' morning with Geo. J. S. Jackson, the man implicated in the affair. From one of the witnesses of the affray who is in Masterton this morning, we gather the following particulars :—Geo. J. S. Jackson, the man who is the offender in,the matter is a laborer and was formerly a resident of Masterton, married into a Scandinavian family, and has since been on more or less bad terms with the Brodersons. He has already been before the Court on two charges of assault, one of attacking his wife and the other of molesting Henry Brodersen, the present victim of his ungovernable outbreak, and in December last he was bound over to keep the peace for three months. Since that Jackson has not appeared before the public for any breach of the law, but it would seem that the bad feeling has only been slumbering, for yesterday, at Mr Vile's yard in Maunceville, while more or less under the influence of liquor, he commenced a series of attacks on all around him. He appears first to have threatened Basmus Brodersen, the father of Henry Brodersen, by saying that he would kill him, and he added, " I'll have you another time, if not to-day." He then to Peter Halberg, another man who was present, said : " Pll murder you if I swing for it." At this stage, Henry Broderson came on the scene, and lie was immediately invited by Jackson to" put up hisfists," the request being supplemented by the comment: "if you're ab— man, you will." Jackson then attacked Mr Broderson, jun., and struck him a severe blow above the eye, .which made a deep gash and from which the blood flowed freely. The others, including Mr Vile, quickly went to the rescue, and pulled off the combative man, Brodersen running away to the house for safety, and his assailant flinging after him the words: "HI show you how a b— Englishman can run. He won't get away another time," while Mr Vile was told he would have to fight " for interfering." Jackson was quickly secured and then the telegram to the police was sent. From what we can hear, this dispatch in describing the case as one of stabbing was, in the excitement, sent under a misapprehension of the facts. The assailant certainly had, before the struggle commenced, been in possession of a knife, but, from what we can hear, he stuck it in the fence before commencing his reckless onslaught, and it was afterwards found there. Brodersen's wound certainly looked like a stab or knife cut, but at the same time, it was one which could have been caused by a man's hard knuckles, especially if the fingers had a ring on them. There is, therefore, no evidence whatever of stabbing, and when the case is called at 2.15 this afternoon we understand the charge will be one of assault with intent to do harm, When Constable Salmon got to Mauriceville last night, Jackson was still intoxicated, and was easily arrested. He merely threatened to " cook" the person who had sent for the police. He was brought up at the R.M. Court this morning oil the charge of drunkenness, and fined 40s, with 15s trap hire, and costs. The more serious charge was remanded until this afternoon, to allow of witnesses being summoned. The case against Jackson had just concluded as we went to press. The prisoner did dot plead. After hearing evidence, His Worship said that he thought there were good grounds for binding over the accused, who was of a violent disposition, to keep the peace, and this would be done, iu a bond of himself for £2O and two sureties of £lO each. The prisoner would also have to pay the costs, 17s.