RUFFIANISM IN MELBOURNE.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7214, 27 November 1888, Page 5

RUFFIANISM IN MELBOURNE.

DEATH OF A CHINAMAN. [ntOX OUR OOBBBSrONOBNT.] [Bt Telegraph from the Blutf.] MELBOURNE, November 20, A street encounter, resulting in the death of a Chinaman named Ah Yong» took place early on Saturday night in Market Lane, one of the numerous narrow alleys leading from Little Bourke street East. It seems that shortly before seven o'clock in the evening a number of rough* went into Market Lane for the pur* pose of molesting the Chinese, who are almost the exclusive occupants of the place. Visits of this kind are of fre* qnent occurrence, and the Chinese, warned by past experiences, avoided a disturbance by shutting themselves up in their houses until the gang had passed. Finding themselves baulked of their amusement, most of the Europeans went away, but a man named Stephen Cuttler, and a companion whose name haa not been ascertained, remained behind, and it is alleged attempted to levy black mail upon one Ah Tack, a cabinet maker, who had been incautious enough to re-open hia door. Cuttler demanded that Ah Tack should pay for drinks, and when the Chinese excused himself on the plea of having no money, struck him a violent blow with his fist. Ah Tack retaliated by knocking the aggressor down, and getting into his house as quickly as possible once more took refuge behind barred doors. Meantime Cuttler went off with his companion towards Little Bourke street. At the corner of the lane they met a Chinese named Ah Yong, and at once commenced a brutal attack upon him, apparently with the object of avenging themselves for their former reverse. According to the statement of several eyewitnesses Ah Yong was knocked down and held on the ground by the second man while Cuttler kicked him savagely, about the body. Ah Taok, who had seen the assault from the beginning, ran to the rescue of his compatriot, and tried to help him to his feet, but was atta ked by the two Europeans and forced to let go his hold. Cuttler then commenced his assault on the fallen man. jumping savagely upon his breast several times until Ah Yong lost consciousness. < hen both men made off, leaving their victim for dead. Ah Tack and a number of other Chinese who had been attracted by the sound of the struggle, started off in pursuit, and came up with Cuttier at the corner of r xhibit ion street, but he managed to free himself, and ran off followed by the crowd, which now included Constables Smith and Campbell. Finding that he was losing ground, Cuttler darted i up a blind right-of way, known as Punch's lane, entered the back door of the Early Bird Hotel, ran through the premises into Lonsdale street, and so into Leichardt street. He ran straight into the arms of Constable Walsh, who detained him until the crowd came up, when he was arrested and taken to the Little Bourke street watchhouee. Constable Campbell then went back to Market lane, and finding Ah Yong still lying unconscious in the street, took him to the Melbourne Hospital, where it was found that life was extinct. Cuttler is a bricklayer's laborer, twentysix years of age, and lives at Carlton. An Yong was a particularly quiet inoffensive man, and a complete stranger to the larrikins.