SHOOTING AFFRAY AT ONEHUNGA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), 22 December 1883, Page 3

SHOOTING AFFRAY AT ONEHUNGA.

Auckland, This day

A shouting ufi'air has occurred at Onoliimga. Two alien named Junes and M'DermoU liad a (quarrel iv a public house over cards. After the quarrel Jones went homo and got a revolver with which he fired Wo shots at M'Dermott as the latter rode past on one shot taking effect in

the back and the other in the left leg. It is not known whether the shot in the back is likely to prove fatal or not. McDermott, who was shot by Jones, the manager of the Onehunga iron sand works, in consequence of a quarrel arising out of a ■rame of cards, is in a very critical condition. Dr. Scott, who attended the patient immediately after the shooting, says there aro two wounds. One is not serious. The bullet passed through the left thigh from side to side through the flesh, but did not remain lodged. The other bullet entered near the centre of the back-bone, and came out under the left armpit. It appears to have entered the cavity of tho chest, and does not appear to have injured the lung. The symptoms are such as to make the case serious and doubtful as to recovery, but not absolutely certain fatal. William Henry Jones, the prisoner, now in custody, has been in the colony from twelve to eighteen months, and was engaged in America to take the management of the smelting works to convert the iron sand of the west coast into iron by a company formed for that purpose. He is a man of about 40 years of age, of medium height and build, an Englishman by birth, and a native of one of the midland counties, but has spent tho greater portion of tho prime of his life in the United States. Since his arrival in New Zealand he married the daughter of Mr Blackey, J. P., exMayor of Onehunga. He was generally liked, although occasionally of quick temper, and it is thought that he must have been grossly insulted and provoked. McDermott is a young man of 30 years of ago, a native of Ontlmuga, and the son of a pensioner. He is a labourer, and resides with his parents on the outskirts of Onehunga. He seems to have had the best of the first quarrel with Jones.