Accidents & Offences

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 14

Accidents & Offences

A SAVAGE ASSAULT. A CHINESE SHOP AFFRAY,

A scene of great excitement occurred last night week in Cuba-street. It appears that an expressman living in Cuba,street, named Samuel Elliott, went at 8,3;9 into the shop of VVong She, a fruiterer and grocer, situate nearly opposite the White Swan Hotel, to purchase some onions. Elliott hqd a suspicion that Wong ohe w aa QOfc g' v i n g bim full weight, and insisted upon a few more pnions being placed upon the scale. Wong She objected to this, and upon Elliott repeating' his demand aqd assisting himself to the onions, three other Chinese, who were in the shop, joined Wotfg She and commenced what may be termed a savage assault upon Mr Elliott. The Chinese seized hold o,f some broom handles and beat Elliott qbouq the head and face, inflicting several sevore wounds on his scalp, from Which the blood flowed freely. Elliott, finding himself overmatched, ran out into the street. The four Chinese followed, striking at him until he had got beyond their reach. By this time a crowd of several hundred per. sons had.gathered round the shop. Stones were thrown by some of the crowd at the windows of the shop, with the result that the glass in both windows was broken. The crowd rushed the shop and scattered the goods i,n all directions. By this time Constable Madden had arrived' on the scene, quickly followed by Sergeant Ready and Constables Webb and McLean. The shop was emptied of its occupants, and the doors closed, the police taking charge of the premises. The Chinese secreted themselves, in the back part of the building. Constable Madden has taken charge of the broom handles, which qre plentifully besprinkled with blood ; also a porter's hook, us ©d by the Chinese in their attack upon Elliott, The excitement in Cuba-street lasted for a long time, pad up, tp, a late hour cro,w dp were seen discussing the macter.