A RACIAL RIOT

NZ Truth, Issue 834, 12 November 1921, Page 6

A RACIAL RIOT

EXCITING AFffiAYJI AUCKLAND The Killing of Wong Foo FOUR fIJIANS CHARGED WITH MURDER

As 1 the outcome of an affray m Grey Street, on October 24, the result of which was the death of a Chinese gardener, Dv Moy, also known as Wong Foo, four sturdy Fijians, named John Frank Peckham, ship's ilreman, Julian Florian, laborer, Charles McGoon, carpenter, and David Lazarus, carpenter, were charged before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., with having mur- • dered Dv Moy. Chief Detective Mcllveney prosecuted, Mr. Singer appeared for Florian and Mr. Moody for McGoon, Peckham and Lazarus.

Mr- McKean, S.M., sat as coroner on the inquest, which was held at the same time. . Dr. Donald McCrao said that on the night of October 24 he was m charge of No. 1 Ward at the Auckland Hospital, and remembered a Chinaman, Wong Foo, being brought m unconscious. He was suffering from a fracture of the base of the skull, but there . were no marks about the face. Wong Foo died next day without regaining consciousness. ' „ Dr. D. N. W. Murray said he made a post-mortem examination on the body of Wong Foo. • There were no external marks of violence except a ja-aze on the right shin. Both eyes were blackened and there was a lrac-turo-of the base oC the skull. rhe> seventh, eight and- ninth ribs on the right side of the chest were fractured. Jn witness's opinion death was due to, fracture of the base of tho skull combined, with haemorrhage of the Wong BackHoo" (through an interpreter) said that the body he saw »t the morgue on October 26 was that of his father, Wong Foo. The deceased was married, with a wife m China. He was 55 years of age ana a market gardener at the time of his death. On the Sunday evening, October 23, witness gave deceased £50, some silver and- a cheque. Constable Robert W. Stewart, said that he found the deceased m Cook Street at 5.20 p.m. on October 24. His eyes Were bruised and he was bleeding from the mouth and nose. Witness took him to the hospital, at which time he wag unconscious. On being searched Wong F £o had £68 In .notes, a cheque for £17 18s. &™ .™* m gold, and £1 10s m silver, besides a watch and chain and- diamond ring. Robert Angus Leikis, motor mechanic, said that on Monday, October 24, he Tvas at work at 5.30 p.m. at a garage near the corner of Albert ana Cook Streets. He heard some shoutIng and on coming out of the garage he saw several Islanders coming up Cook Street. On reaching Albert Street one of them took off his coat and ran down Cook Street. Witness followed, and on reaching the corner .saw the Islander

ROLLING A NUMBER OF. CHINESE ABOUT THE ROAD.

By this time the remainder of the Islanders had reached the spot andthere was/ a general fight. Both Chinese and Fijians got a blow m Whenever'they could. The fight continued for about ten minutes- and some of the Islandera wanted to leave, but others were inclined to keep the ball rolling. When the scrap appeared to be all over three Islanders were standing near O'Leary Bros. & Downs' premises. a Chinaman appeared (o approach the centre one of the three Islanders and the Islar.tf-er broke away from his companions and struck the Chinaman on the chin. The Chinaman fell, the back of his head striking the footpath. The fighting 1 then started again and continued for a couple/of minutes, when the Islanders made oft?, some going along Albert Street and the others up Cook Street. Two of the Islanders shouted to their companions "Go (or your life' and they scattered. There w«« more Fijians fighting than those m court, but he could not pick out the one who struck the Chinaman when the latter fell on the path. A little later a constable came and took the Chinaman away. Nobo&y interfered with the Chinaman whilst he lay on the ground. .Tames Docherty Tennyson, fireman, residing at -the Sailors' Home, said he saw the scrap between the Fijians and Chinese and roeognised the four accused as being participants. The accused McGoon he .saw strike a Chinaman on the chin find then heard someone call out "That man's killed." Witness ran up and saw that the Chinaman lying on the path was unconscious. Prior to being knocked tlown the Chinaman appeared to- be •Rotating to McCloon. but he could- not whether the Chinaman was going to hit McGoon. As soon asl McGoon knocked the ChinamaVi down

THE ISLANDERS SCATTERED,

Witness knew the accused Peckham, having been shipmates with him at one time. Peckham was m the scuffle but witness did not see him strike anyone. ■ ■

.tames William Hack, apprentice .iockey, said that he saw about half-a-dozen Fijlans running \up. Cook Street- with about a dozen Chinese after them. When they reached O'L.eary & Downs' premises they entered into- a general scrap, In which all took part. Several of the Chinese were knocked down, but all except one got up, and as soon as the Pijlana waw that one did. not get up they bolted, with the- Chinese after them.

George Emanuel Bottles said that m the afternoon of Labor Day he met McGoon. Lazarus, Peckham and Florian and left them again m Victoria Street. He next saw them m the Mru-ket Hotel. Leaving the hotel witness walked up Cook Street and saw •a Chinaman with a brick m his hand nbout* to strike Tsazarus, who was m a lane. Lazarus ■ caught the Chinaman by the leps'ancl threw, him down, hut the Chinaman pot up, and picking up a short pice of iron went to strike Lazarus, but Peckham then joined m and took the iron from the Chinaman. Witness then advised the Chinamnn 1o pro quietly inside and he woulfl take the accused away. As they walked away about 20 or 30 Chinamen followed the four Fijians and there ensued a fi-eneivil fight. Lazarus mid Peckham each strUck a Chinaman hut Florin n Avas too drunk and was pushing the Chinamen as best he could. Things quietened down a bit nnd then a Chinaman who had just arrived on the scene ' ran towards McGonn with his fist shut. As the chinaman .struck at McGoon THE LATTER HIT THE CHINAMAN,

»?lio fell, to the footpath. There was then :i scatter. McGoon was very drunk at the time, as were his companions. During the fight witness saw several Chinese fall to the grounci but of the Fijians Lazarus was the only one witness saw fall. Wong KuJ, laundryman, Upper Queen Street, said that at 5 p.m. on Labor Day he was having a meal at the Chinese Club m Grey Street. Hearing' a noise outside he went out Into the lane which runs into Cook Street. Wong Foo was with witness find on reaching Cook Street Wong Foo asked the tallest of the Fijians 'McGoon) not to fight. McGoon struck Wong Foo, who fell to the ground- -Then Peckham and Florian rushed and struck witness m the eye and o:*. th« chest Ho too fell to the SZOttfld, and on coining to again Baw

five or. six Fijians, including" the accused, /running: up Cook Street- Wong Foo never • wanted to fight, but McGoon was wanting- him to fight. There were only three Chinamen present when witness and Wong 1 Foo arrived on the scene.. Lum Chin said that lie and Wong Lim were coming down Cook Street when they passed the Fijians. one of whom struck at him and knocked his hat off and then began kicking it about like a football. "Witness ran down a lane and then other Chinamen- appeared. He saw McGoon strike Wong Foo and the latter fell. There were about half-a-dbzen Chinamen all told. Lim Jong was, m the Chinese Club when someone said- there was a fight on. He went out to see the fun and got a punch on the .iaw. When McGoon punched him Wbng Foo was telling the Fijians not to fight. Evidence was also given by other Chinese. Constable Lawrence A. Moore said that he went to Cook Street at 5.25 p.m. on Labor Day and saw a Chinaman lying unconscious on the fodtpath. The Chinaman was bleeding at the mouth and nose. Witness followed a couple/, of Fijians up Vincent Street and down Beresf ord Street to the Western Park, where he arrested Florian. The latter said it was Charlie McGoon who. had- struck the Chinaman. Florian showed signs of having had liquor.

Constable James Leslie said he arrested Peckham, who tvas pointed out to him m Ponsonby Road by Lim Jong. Peckham denied having been m a fight with 1 any Chinese m Cook Street, and told Lim Jong ' the latter was a liar. Peckham was then quite sober. Subsequently he admitted being mixed up m. a scrap with some Chinamen, but said he did not have anything to do with starting it. -

Detective Sergeant Tom. Fitzgibbons said that on October 25 with Detective O'Sullivan they interviewed the accused McGoon and Lazarus. McGoon made> a signed 1 statement m which he said he had been drinking- a lot the previous day and could not remember being m the Market Hotel, or being mixed up m any row with Chinese. He said he. was very drunk the previous daj'.

Witness also 'got a statement from Lazarus, who said he and the others concerned HAD BEEN DRINKING HEAVILY. He remembered walking up Cookstreet when a Chinaman went to hit him with a brick.- He caught the Chinaman by the legs and threw 'him and then another Chinaman went to hit him with a piece of iron. . A free fight then ensued, and he admitted striking the Chinamen. He didn't hear any bad language used towards the Chinamen. On the following 1 Friday, October 28, the Chinese who gave evidence, were separately shown the accused, and each picked McGoon out as the man who had struck Wong- FO9. Detective O'Sullivan corroborated the evidence of Fitzgibbons*

His Worship said there was no evidence against Florlan, Lazarus or Peckham to support a charge of murder, and. the charge against them would be dismissed. •

In regard to McGoon there was no evidence -to support a charge of murder and the charge would be amended to manslaughter.

The accused pleaded not guilty andwas committed for trial. Bail was llxed at one surety of £500 or two of £2SO.

Peckham and Lazarus .were then charged with common assault. , Mr. Moody said it would be useless for them to plead not guilty. / Ha asked his Worship to take into consideration that the aedused were muddled with drink.

His Worship said that Peckhanv appeared to have been the worst offender and on the charges of assaulting Wong Kirn and Wong Kui he would be flned £3, half the fine m each instance to go >to the assaulted Chinaman. Lazarus would be fined £2 on one information only.