TRAGIC OCCURRENCE AT OPUAWHANGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13480, 3 July 1907, Page 7

TRAGIC OCCURRENCE AT OPUAWHANGA.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER.

"yoUNG MAN AND HIS UNCLE

VICTIM'S CONDITION HOPELESS.

f 8 y TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

':." Whangarei, Tuesday. 4 t the Police Court this morning, before Messrs Thompson and Chadwin, J.P.'s, Mervyn Karl Bradshaw was charged with Attempting to murder Allan Edward Bissett by stabbing him with a sheatbkmfe in the left side, back, and arm at Opuawhanga, on .July 1. On the application of the police a remand was granted to July 11. as Bissett is } >' in S in a critical condition and is unable to appear. Bradshaw, who apparently is about 22 or 23 years of age, uttered no word of any kind while in Court, and appeared quite collected and unconcerned. He was taken to Auckland, per s.s. Aupouvi, at noon in charge of Constable Wade. Accused is a nephew of Mr. Bissett, who • 13 a member of the Whangarei County Council and Otonga Road Board, his home being at Opuawhanga. At this place Mr. Bissett owns a flaxmill, and Bradshaw had been' working there for three years. Yesterday afternoon accused was workin" at the mill, as usual, engaged in shaking the flax from the stripper, James Aldred being in charge of this part of the work.. About 2.30 Bnidshaw went outside the mill, it was supposed to fetch more raw material. He saw Mr. Bissett driving an empty waggon across the paddock towards the mill, and went in that direction, crossing a small creek and meeting Mr. Bissett on the other side. Here Mr Bissett pulled up and jumped from the waggon, but no sooner had he touched the ground than Bradshaw is alleged to have whipped out a sheathknife and driven it up to the handle in Mr. Bissett's left side, afterwards stabbing him in the back and arm, inflicting terrible wounds.

Meanwhile Aldred found tho stock of green flax was exhausted, and he went to see what Bradshaw was doing. Taking in the situation at a glance he rushed directly to Mr. Bissett's aid, though too late to avert the mischief. Aldred then grappled: with Bradshaw, who, it is declared, tried to use his knife, the former luckily managing to ward off a stab aimed at his neck.: He eventually wrested the knife from Bradshaw and turned his attention to Mr. Bissett, who was lying in a desperately wounded state on the ground. Whatever frenzy had possessed Bradshaw it left him as suddenly as it had come, and he stood placidly by while the flaxmill hands placed the injured man on a door and carried him to Aldred's house.

; ; ;While lying prostrate and apparently dying on the ground Mr. Bissett extended his hand to Bradshaw as an overture of ■ forgiveness, with the remark: " You are ', the last person on earth I would have .thought woulyl do this!" Bradshaw at first refused the proffered hand, but at length clasped it. • Dr. Ross and Constable Cahill, of Hiku- ■ raugi, who were 12 miles distant from the •• scene, arrived about seven p.m. The doctor did all possible in the circumstances ' for the sufferer, but is not able to offer ■ f hope of recovery. . ; f"'. Constable .Cahill went to, Bradshaw's ."" home, and ioimd him in his bedroom, and arrested him quietly, without "any resistance being offered.' Bradshaw, it is stated, tried to secrete a razor in one of his pockets, but was, prevented by the constable. No further reliable news is yet to hand.