A CHINAMAN'S AMOK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8224, 30 August 1906, Page 3

A CHINAMAN'S AMOK.

DETAILS BY MAIL. The villages of Pennant Hills and Thornleigh, New Sooth Wales, "were thrown .into a state of terror on Friday week hy the extraordinary aotiona of a Chinaman who ran amok and killed a litlJo boy and a youth, besides attacking and injuring a poliQimiiiu and another man. The weapon uaod by thp madman was a tomahawk, with which he battered the heads of both hia victims. The first warning the residents of the district had that anything was wrong was at Ave o'clock. At that hnur the Thornleighjailway station preHented an animated appearance, (.he platform being dotted with peuple waiting for the Sydney train. Amongst those who were there was a Chinese named Charlie John Tye, a market gardener. He was accompanied by a tellow countryman, aud bought f.wo single tickets to Syduey. Thero was nothing in his appenraiico to attract attention, unless it was that he GARtflfiD A TOMAHAWK, •wrapped up in paper, uuder fiis right arm. After baying hia tickets, ho joined the throng waiting for the train. A few minutes before the engine oarae in sight Tye was seen to become agitated, and then, without warning,i ho mnde A WILD RUSH at a group of men standing on the platform. As he neared them he drew the tomahawk from its wrapping, and, raising the weapon aljft, aimed a blow at John E. Hockley, a slaughterman, employed by Mr Pollard. Hockley saw the blow descending just in time to spring baok and avoid its full force. , He was not lucky enough to escape altogether, for the keen blade caught him just over the eye, uau«ing a nasty wound. Although partially stunned be waa able to swing round and make a dash for safety. r lhe infuriated Chinese saw the. move, and made another slash at his intended victim. Hockley's good lack, however, stuck to him, for the blow fell short, rinping open the fugitive's coat down the bauk. Once away from the immediate presence of Tye, Hockley 7?as soon safe After leaving the station the now maddened Chinaman took to the bush and ran at full speed in the direction of Pennant Hills. It was within a quarter of a mile of this township that Tye committed HIS FIRST MURDER. The victim was a bright little lad of nine years, Tjamed Abert Gordon Pettit. The child, whose father is a dairyman at Thornleigh,was on the way home from delivering milk, and be little tbought of the cruel fate awaiting hip. He came gaily along the bush traok, leading to the main road, suspecting nothing until confronted with the terrorinspiring Chinese waving hia blood stained weapon above bis hoad. The lad wns helpless before tne man, who fell upon bim and mudly hacked him about'the head. The attack must have been most savage, for when discovered by those who the little led waa almost unrecognisable, his bead be ing smashed in and tho brains protruding. A few yards further on Tye met HIS NBJXt VICTIM, a youth uf 16 years, named Horace Henry Aiken. Tbia young fellow, who is employed by Mr E. Turner, a grocer, of Pennant Hills, was seated in hiß cart outside the residence of Mr A. G. Hinds, when Tye came up to bim. From acoounts furnished by eye-witnesses it apppared 1 that lye asked Aiken a question, and on the youth bending down to answer him the Chinaman struck him na the side of the bead with bis tomahawk. The blow knocked Aiken out of the vehicle, but did not stun him, and be made to run away. Tye, however, was too quick for the unfortunate youth, and caught him a 9 he was getting under a feoo. The Chinese hit the fugitive once more on the head, and then dragged him into the roadway, where he oompleted his butahery, "smashing bis head in and slashing his shoulders with the weapon.

This trpgedy was witnessed by Mrs Hinds and her five daughters, who were working about their home. Ihßy SCREAMED FOR HELP, and mad« an attempt to gain the road. As they did so, however, the Chinese ceased hacking at the hud-dled-np form of his victim, and made a rush at the terrified women. Pindine escape from the front blocked Mrs Hinds led her daughters into the house again, where ,they looked themselves up in the diningroom. 'lye followed, and attempted to breaK down the door. Failing in this, be made hia way round to the aide of the house and entered a bedroom. This move was seen by the women, who left the place by the back and gained the shelter of a neighbour's residence. Two constables sent to effect the arrest of the murderer arrived at the soene of the tragedy eoualy. After a short consultation ithey decided to enter the house and take the Chinese prisoner. A long poie was secured, and with this the door was battered down. The officers then made a rush into the room. 'lye, was waiting for his men, ana as they entered the door way, he made a rush at them. Constable McDonald was selected by the Chinese for his attack, and nt this offioer Tye AIMED A BLOW,

with hie tomahawk. The policeman, however, was ready, for as the weapon fell ho sprang back, not in time, however, to effectually escape, for the blade glanced bis shoulder, and inflicted a nasty wound. Bushing in McDonald, then oiosed with his man, and in so doing received another wound on the band. Constable Allan also got in close quaitere, and botween them the officers secured the Chinaman, who fougbt like a demon. He is powerfully built, and it took the officers all their time to hold him down until tbey could handcuff him,