YOUNG CHINESE SHOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 233, 2 October 1929, Page 9

YOUNG CHINESE SHOT.

BULLET THROUGH THE HEAD.

HIS RECOVERY DOUBTFUL,

FEARED TOTAL BLINDNESS. "A CUP OF TEA ON THE OTHER SIDE." '. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") STRATFORD, this day. The shop of a young Chinese fruiterer, James Bing,* of Patea, was closed all day yesterday. A fishmonger named S. Bartlett and a Chinese laundryman named Joe Tong, fearing that something was wrong, decided to investigate.

In response to their repeated knockings Bing opened the door, and it was seen that he was badly wounded. Piercing his temple in the region of one eye was a .3 calibre revolver bullet wound!, and on the opposite side of his head were marks indicating that the bullet was almost visible, having nearly emerged.

As soon as Bing's condition was realised, he was taken to the hospital in a semi-conscious condition. It is doubtful if he will recover.

When Bing awoke yesterday morning, according to the story he told those who found him, he was totally blind, and did not think it worth while living. Several notes were found on the premises. One, addressed to a personal friend, said: "Perhaps we will have a cup of tea on the other side,"

When be was discovered in the shop, Bing asked Bartktt whether, if he recovered, he would be without his sight. If that was the case, ho wished to have his misery ended.

Bing is about 19 years of age, and was regarded as a respectable and honourable young Chinese. He possessed considerable ability as a black and white artist, and had sent a number of examples of his work to Australia. It is thought that close application to sketching may have affected his eyesight. An alarm clock standing on a shelf in Bing's room had a bullet hole through it. The hands indicated that it had stopped at 7.30 o'clock. Evidently the weapon had been tried on the clock before Bing received his injury.