KILLED IN THE STREET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3995, 22 December 1891, Page 2

KILLED IN THE STREET.

A Station Sand Sleets His FateAnother Drink Victim. Emerson street, Napier, was the scene of a sad affair on Wednesday night, when an affray between two men, both ot whom were under the influence of drink, resulted in the ultimate death of one of them. At ten minutes past eleven Samuel Robinson was stahbedin the groin by his companion, Michael Sullivan, and shortly after 1 a.m. on the following day he died in the Napier hospital. Sullivan is in gaol awaiting his fate. The stabbing took place in the vicinity of Mr O'Donoghue's Provincial Hotel, and thd proceedings were witnessed by a number of people who were passing by, and who noticed the men quarrelling. No one actually saw SULLIVAN STAB ROBINSON, but there was such Btrong evidence against him that he was immediately arrested by a constable who happened to be in fie street at the time. It is the old story of drink, often published in the world, which still wags merrily on, however, although human beings meet an untimely end, and depart to the ereat beyond. Robinson (the deceased), Sullivan, and a man named Keys had been drinking together during the evening, in fact, during the day also. Sullivan had been working out at Petane, and had knocked up a good sized cheque, which he came to town to spend, as is his wont, and was standing drinks for all and sundry at various hotels in town. Some time before eleven o'clock Sullivan left Robinson and Keys, but picked tbem up again in Emer3on street shortly

BEFORE THE STABBING took place. The trio went towards the Provincial Hotel, near Clive Square, where Sullivan and Robinson commenced talking in a rather loud tone of voice. Keys went; on to the footpath and called out " Don't talk so loud, you fellows, or the policeman will have you." He must have noticed Constable O'Connor standing a short way up tho street. No notice was taken of Key's request to talk low, the altercation between the pair resulting in Robinson singing out — *' Oh ! Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ." He wriggled about as if writhing in pain, and ran ov3i'smartly to the coach factory opposite the hotel, where he stood against the door and said

" OH ! LOOK AT THE BLOOD." Constable O'Connor came along, and bullivan made off, but was soon collared, and the constable sent for a doctor to attend to tlie wounded man. Dr Macallan was not long in arriving on the spot, and he proceeded to allay the pain suffered by Robinson, who was in great agony, and appeared to be almost unconscious. It was found that he had received an ugly wound in the left groin, and that blood was Bowing copiously. A door was procured and Robinson was carried into the side passage of the Provincial Fotel, whore Dr Macallan again attended to him, and subsequently ordered his removal to the Napier hospital, where he could re* ceive all the attention his case demanded. Sergt Cullen, Detective Grace, and Constable Strickland had by this timo arrived upon the scene and were MAKING ENQUIRIES regarding the circumstances under which Robinson was hurt. The Sergeant secured an express in which the wounded man was placed and taken to the hospital, where the staff did all in their power for him, but nothing could save him, and he died shortly after 1 o'clock next morning. He had lost a large quantity of blood, and the wound was inflicted in too bad a place to permit of recovsry. The wound was a very ugly one, about an inch and three -quarters in length, and an inch and a quarter across. When arrested SuUivan, who was rather dazed from the effects of drink, but, we believe, not actually drunk, made some excuse for what he did by saying that

ROBINSON HAD TRIED TO ROB HIM of what cash he had in his pocket. When searched at the police station he had £9 odd in his possession. A ct>;"U packet knife was picked up near the scene of the'affray, but it was shut and did not have any blood on it. The knife was quite large enough to have inflicted the wound received by Robinson, and need not necessarily have blood on it, as the movement made in stabbing was very quick, and the withdrawal through the clothes would take any blood off that adhered to the blade Robinson has been in town for tli9 last few weeks, and has been drinking nearly all the time. The first day he was arrested at the Spit by Constable Haryoy for drunkenness he was floundering about the wharf, and was about to fall over the side when the constable took charge of him, He ESCAPED A WATERY GRAVE to meet perhaps a. worse fate. When brought before the Court on that occasion he said he came from Te Aute, where he had been working for Archdeacon Williams. Heliadbeen suffering from paius in the head, and a little drink '.'knocked him over" so to speak. He was then discharged with a caution, hut was afterwards arrested agaiii, and this time he was so bad

that he was ordered to be locked up in Napier gaol in order that he might have curative treatment. When released he did not go home, but continued drinking, with the result that he met his di'ath in the manner described above. We are not sure as to the correct name of the man. At the police watchhouse he gave the qame of Samuel Robertsou, but when he joined the HawkVs Bay Free Association he said his name was Robinson. He is a man of about 45 years of age, ofo lOin in height, a bony frame, short hair, sallow complexion, clean shaved, with the exception of a light brown moustache, arid affegts to, be troubled occasionally with neuralgia; '

MICHAEL SULLIVAN, who is in the custody of the police, is very woll known about this district. J£p jjj £ short, thick : set man of about oft 6in, aged about 66, fcharj beard inclined to turn grey, has only one eye, and wears rather dilapidated clothes. He has been before the Court times ont of number for drunkenness, and is consequently well known to the police officers. He is said to be one of the best labourers about the country, but when he knocks up a cheque he cannot resist the temptation of coming to town and indulging in his old failing—Jhe curse of his life —drink.— Telegraph.