The Affray with Chinamen.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5885, 2 October 1890, Page 2

The Affray with Chinamen.

Lower Hutt, to-day,

The inquest on the body of Thomas James Smith, who was stabbed to death in an alleged alTray with Chinamen on Monday night, was held this morning be--1 fore Mr Robinson, District Coroner. The evidence of Doctor Wilford showed three wounds had been inflicted on deceased by a very sharp instrument, one on the outside of the left knee and two on the left arm. The blow on the knee severed tho poplateral and artery, death was caused bytho excessive flow of blood from this wound. The fact of Smith being in ill health did not in any way haston death. Th,e doctor was of opinion that the blow on the leg was not intended to cause death as it was only by the slightest chance tho artery was severed. Hobbs, one of the participants in tho light stated that in the early part of Monday evening he and two others threw stones on tho Chinamen's hut from tho road. They then returned to the township and about eleven o'clock several other young fellows joined them, and v band of seven again visited the huts, which they assailed with stones. Three Chinamen rushed out from behind the gorso fence and the lads took to their heels, deceased lagging behind. The Chinamen soon made up to him, and as ho called for help Hobbs returned to his assistanco. One Chinaman was then holdinsf Smith by the neck aud one by the legs find both Chinamen had knives in their hands. Witness distinctly saw one Chinaman stab decensed in the arm and one in the leg. Later. Witness could not identify the Chinamen in custody on a charge of murder. The other young men then returned to tho attack, and witness saw ono Chinaman knocked down by a rail thrown at him. The r til wis about eleven feet long and six inches thick. The weapons used by the Chinamen looked like daggers.