A SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 198, 21 August 1900, Page 2

A SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

AN AUCKLANDEK, MURDERED

SHOCKING DEATH OF TOM

BREMNER

An altercation. A blow. A dead man

That (says the "Australian Star" of the Oth ins't.) is the brief recital of a tragedy which occurred in Pitt-st. last night, a tragedy which lengthens by one the already long roll of Sydney's street horrors. At a comparatively early hour of the evening, before the city clocks had chimed 10, -when the streets were well lighted, and theatres had not yet emptied themselves of their crowded nudiences, violent hands were laid upon a citizen, and he was done to death at the junction of two of the city's busiest thoroughfares. The victim of the attack, who has since been identified as Mr T. Bremner, n resident of Chippendale, was standing at the. corner •of Pitt and Park streets, conversing with a woman. While they were thus engaged a man who was in the vicinity observed tliree other men approach them. The newcomers stopped and entered intk> conversation. Suddenly one of the newcomers is alleged to have struck Bremner a blow on the head. The force was sufficient to cause him to fall. He staggered to his feeto. Then it is asserted, a second man struck the unfortunate, and he fell again. He did not recover from this blow, and remained inert where he had fallen. A third man is snid to" have made as though to strike him with an umbrella, but refrained. Seeing that their victim remained prostrate the three men promptly rendered themselves absent. The woman, who appears to have taken nk> part in the affair, was al?o noticed to hove disappeared. Constable M'Lennan happened along at this juncture. By this time the fallen man was surrounded by a few pas-sers-by. The serious condition of the man impressed itself upon the constable, who was prompt in securingl his conveyance to the Sydney hospital. "Dead!" said the surgeon, after an examination. With that pronouncement the case passed absolutely from medical hands into, the care of the Criminal Investigation. Department. Senior-Constables lloss and Mankey at once, set out to secure the three men stated to have been concerned in the tragedy. Xot an easy task: but gradually the officers got hold of certain points of information, as to the appearance of the men wanted, and adding to this shrewd conjecture they at length entered a hotel in Bathurst-st. and there made three arrests. THE VICTIM: The victim of the murderous assault has been identified as Thomas Bremner, of 74 Pine-st.y Chippendale. Proceeding to that address this morning a "Star" reporter was admitted to a comfortable little home by Mrs Bremner, who had not long before learned the sad death of her husband. Mrs Bremner, who was naturally griefstricken, was able, to supply a lot of information concerning the victim, who was a well known figure in the sporting world. Born in New Zealand where most of his relatives still reside, he went as an apprentice into some racing stables at an early age, and was connected with the wellknown Qreen Lane stables, near Auckland. He continued as a. jockey till he became too heavy about the age tof 32, and since then has been training horses in various parts of Australia. He was last connected with a pony stable at Alexandria, where he leased and trained four ponies, among them being Maltese and- Rocket. Deceased had some ponies racing at Kensington, nnd returned .home about 6 o'clock. About half an hour afterwards he left home for town, telling his only child, a bright little fellow of five years, that he would be home in an hour's time. That was • the last his people' saw of him alive. About seven years ago deceased married a vridOw, who had five daughters by her previous marriage. Of these two are married, one is away from home, while the youngest two', aged 15 and 13 respectively, are 'living with, their mother and deceased's little son. Owing to the sad occurrence their plight is now a pitiable one. Some six years ago Bremner spent five months in the hospital suffering from typhoid fever, nnd ever since has been struggling to gain the position then lost. During the past 18 months matters had taken a brighter turn with, the family, but just as they were becoming comfortable the life of the bread winner was cut short. Mrs Breramer is now in delicate health, and is being attended to by one of her married daughters. The deceased, who was 47 years of age, -was a man k>f temperate habits. He was well known in Brisbane, where a brother-in-law, Mr John Chaafe, the horse trainer, still resides.

SYDNEY, Thursday. Three men, Joseph Rawson, Edward Jones, and James Oakley, have been arrested in connection with the death of Thomas Bremner, who was attacked in the street last evening, and died from injuries to the head. Accused were present in custody at the inquest to-day. After medical evidence had been tendered, an adjournment was granted, in order to give the police an opportunity of collecting evidence.