A DUEL IN MELBOURNE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 295, 20 December 1901, Page 3

A DUEL IN MELBOURNE.

ITALIANS FIGHT WITH KNIVES.

A startling episode, short, sharp, and sensational, happened in Swanston Street, Melbourne, one evening last month at 6.30, which resulted in an Italian flower-seller being taken to the hospital with a deep and dangerous stab in the breast. Nearly all the flower-sellers who stand at the Corner of Collins'and Swanston Streets are Italians, and quarrels are frequent amongst them. One evening recently a dispute arose between one named Antonio Vesquze and a younger man, whose name has not transpired. The facts gleaned are meagre, as it is evident that an attempt is being made by the other flower-sellers to shield the man who struck the blow and to conceal the cause of the quarrel. The version of Thos. Maxwell is that the two men were violently abusing oach other, and blows succeeded ; suddenly a more serious phase was introduced, knives were whipped out and opened, and both men feinted round each other, watching warily for an opening. It soon came; the arm of the younger man shot out, and the blade was plunged into the breast of his antagonist. With a cry of pain, the wounded man dropped his knife and staggered back clasping his bands over his breast, from which the blood was flowing. No further attempt was made by the younger man to follow up the advantage, and, pausing to look closely at Ms prostrate enemy, he muttered some words and wenfc oS. rapidly along the street. Ho effort seems to have been made by anyone to apprehend the man, and" he was soon lost to view. Max.well's story is corroborated by a boy Who also saw the affray, and both these Witnesses state that they can identify ilie man who struck the blow,

The whole affair -was accomplished $i& $?iprJsJ)iQ raj?iditj—some sharp,

high words, a blow, two or three silent cautious passes, the flash of a blade and the falling of the wounded man. Constable E. White, who was on duty at the Town Hall corner, was apprised of the occurrence, and proceeded to the spot. He found Vesquze leaning against a post surrounded by a crowdof excited foreigners, who were chattering volubly in their own. language. The only intelligible account he could glean was that of Maxwell, and as Vesquze was evidently badly injured, ha procured a cab and took him to the hospital at once, where he was admitted by Dr Williams. An examination disclosed a deep stab wound in the right breast, penetrating to the lungs, and 21 inches long. The knife entered under'the third rib, and had apparently been dragged along. The injury was a dangerous one, and the patient is in a low state. A nephew of the wounded man acted as interpreter to his Uncle, I who spoke no-English, but little was elicited. He stated that he lived with a number of other Italians at 59 Bouverie Street, Carlton, but declined to say who commenced the fight or how it was provoked. He said he did not know the name of his uncle's assailant.