SENSATIONAL TRAGEDY AT ONEHUNGA. ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Cyril Skilton from Onehunga Fencible & Historical Society Inc.

Yesterday afternoon a sensation was created in Onehunga in consequence of a shooting case, the circumstances of which are unparalleled in New Zealand, and which has an appearance of sensationalism more characteristic of the Western States of America in their wildest time than the conduct of British Citizens residing within a stone’s throw of a police station. Upon hearing of the catastrophe we dispatched a reporter to investigate the circumstances, which, so far as can be gathered, are as follows, taking the facts as collated from several authorities.
A FIGHT OVER CARDS.
Before two o'clock William Beery James, the manager of the Onehunga lronsand Works at Onehunga, was in the Prince Albert Hotel, Queen Street Onehunga, kept by Mr. James Smith, in company with a Mr Ploughman and John McDermott. Ploughman left them in the hotel playing a game of cards – euchre. It appears that Jones and McDermott had some row over the game and hot words ensued. McDermott says that Jones struck at him, and then he struck Jones. A scuffle or fight seems to have taken place, and Jones' cheek was cut and his eye blackened. Jones then made use of some threats towards McDermott, and went down the street towards his residence in Church Street. McDermott returned into the hotel, and remained there for a short time – about 20 minutes – and then got on his horse to ride down towards the wharf.

SHOT IN THE STREET.
It is surmised that in the meantime Jones went home and armed himself, having first gone into a house to wash the blood off his face. McDermott, when riding down the street, saw Jones some distance off, but did not address him, but seeing Jones turned his horses head to ride back. Several shots were then fired – some say three, and some say four - out of a revolver by Jones, and that some of them took effect was evident, from the fact that McDermott cried out that he was shot and galloped away to his home. It may be explained that the shooting took Place in Queen Street nearly opposite Mr. Oates’, boot manufacturer, and McDermott resides on the outskirts of the settlement, near the Royal Oak Hotel, and fully half a mile from this spot, which is just at the rise of the hill, below the Hibernia Hotel.

THE VICTIMS WOUNDS.
McDermott got home, and Dr. Scott WAS SENT FOR. He examined the man, and found a bullet wound on the back at the side of the spinal column, and got the bullet out from under the skin under the left arm pit, where it had lodged. There is a second bullet wound through the left thigh from side to side. There were several people in the street when the shooting took place. Dr. Scott considered the case critical, as it was not ascertained whether the bullet, from the principal wound, had penetrated the lung or injured it.

ARREST OF THE WOULD-BE MURDERER.
Shortly after the occurrence Jones was arrested by Sergeant Greene and Detective Walker, who happened to be in Onehunga on other business, and the man brought to the lockup. He was quite cool and collected, and apparently not under the influence of drink, but he made no statement.

McDERMOTT’S DEPOSITION TAKEN.
As the case was serious and might terminate fatally, Jones was taken to McDermott's residence, and McDermott's depositions were taken down before Dr. Harant, J. P., and his account of the affair is substantially the same as that given above, Dr. Scott suggested to the prisoner that it might be desirable on his part to have another surgeon to have a consultation, and Dr. Stockwell was sent for by the friends of Jones, and arrived at about 7 o’clock, when the consultation took place. Both medical men were of opinion that the case was critical.

Dr. SCOTT’S STATEMENT.
Dr. Scott, who attended the patient immediately after the shooting, makes the following statement. - The poor fellow (McDermott) is in a bad state. He has two wounds. One is not serious. The bullet passed through the left thigh from side to side through the flesh, it did not touch the bone, and the bullet did not remain lodged. The other bullet entered near the centre of the back, a little to the left side of the backbone, and came out under the left armpit. It appears to have entered the cavity of the chest, and does not appear to have injured the lung. The symptoms are such as to make the case serious and doubtful as to recovery, but it is not absolutely certainly fatal.” After consultation with Dr. Stockwell, both concurred in this opinion.

THE PRISONER’S ANTECEDENTS.
William Henry Jones, the prisoner now in custody on this serious charge is the manager of the Iron sand Works at Onehunga, and has been in the colony from twelve to eighteen months. He was engaged in America to take the management of the smelting works to convert the ironsand of the West Coast into iron by the company formed for that purpose. He is a of about forty years of age; of medium height and build, an Englishman by birth a native (here there is a part missing from our records) evening he had an occasion with Dr. Stockwell, and both medical gentlemen were of opinion that the condition of the patient is critical.


Te Aroha News 2 Huitanguru 1884, page 6

THE SHOOTING CASE
Auckland, January 28
AT the Police Court this morning, before His Worship the Mayor and F.H. Hull, Esq., J.P.’s William Henry Jones, on remand, was again brought up on a charge of wilfully shooting, with the intent to kill and murder, John Macdermott, at Onehunga, on the 21st December. Superintendent Thomson conducted the case for the prosecution, and recapitulated the particulars, with which the readers of the Star are familiar.
The prisoner was undefended.
John Macdermott, residing at Onehunga, deposed that he was a labourer; he knew the prisoner; met him between one and two o'clock on the 21st December at the Prince Albert Hotel (Smith's), Queen-street, Onehunga; John Ploughman was in his company; had a small bottle of stout; Ploughman said: “You are doing well.” Jones and Ploughman called for stout also; cards were introduced, and they all went into a sitting-room; Ploughman let the cards fall; he picked out another Pack and they commenced to play euchre; after three games Ploughman left. He and Jones continued playing; he challenged to play Jones for one shilling a game; he beat Jones, and took the shilling and put it into his pocket; Mr Jones said he would play witness or any other man for £1 or £5; he being a working man, could not accept the challenge; that finished the play. They had an argument. "Mr Jones got excited and took off his coat and hat; Mrs Smith then came into the room; he laughed at Jones and went into the passage; could not recollect particulars of quarrel. Jones tapped him on the shoulder, and asked him to come out; he went out to a vacant piece of land beside the hotel; Jones struck him in the face, and witness struck him back, and gave him a blow in the eye; Jones faced him and shaped up to him; he did not strike a second time, but stood rubbing his eye. He then went away and said, "Hold on, Mac, till I come back, and I'll take your B----- life. “ Jones went towards his home in Church Street; he (witness) went into Smith's hotel. He next mounted his horse and rode down Queen-street. This was fully half-an-hour after Jones had left the hotel. Met the prisoner near Oates's boot shop, coming towards him. He was on the footpath. He saw him take something from under his coat and present it at witness. He believed it was a revolver. He turned his horse's head, intending to ride away. Prisoner fired three or four shots. He felt that he was shot in the side. He rode home as fast as he could. He got off his horse and tried to take down the Slip rail, but was unable to do so. He managed to get on to the sofa and lay down. Told his father he was shot. His sister fetched Dr. Scott. The coat, vest, and trousers produced were those which he had on when he was shot. Had no quarrel with Jones previously. William George Scott, duly qualified medical practitioner, Onehunga, deposed to being called by Miss Macdermott to see her brother. It was between 1 and 2 in the afternoon of the 21st ult. Dr. Scott went on to say that Macdermott was in a state of collapse. There was blood upon the door step and on the floor of the house. He examined the wounded man, and found the clothes perforated and corresponding with holes in the body. He then described the wound. A bullet had entered the back a little to the left of the spine, and projecting from the armpit was the bullet, which was battered by coming into contact with the spinal column and probably one of the ribs. There was another bullet wound in the thigh. He advised that the patient's depositions should be taken before a local justice, as he might not rally judging from his condition. The depositions were taken before Mr Harsant, Justice of the Peace. The bullet was weighed and handed over to Sergeant Greene.
John George Ploughman deposed that he was a coal and firewood dealer. Remembered the 21st of December. Went to Smith's hotel. It was about noon. He went in with Mr Jones. Macdermott , was there, and asked witness to shout. He then pressed for a game of billiards. He finally consented to a game of euchre. Played two or three games for drink. He was obliged to leave on business, and parted from Jones and MacDermott who appeared to be on the best of terms. He saw nothing of the shooting. Eliza Smith, wife of James Smith, proprietor of the Prince Albert Hotel, Onehunga, deposed that she knew MacDermott. He was at the hotel at 12 o’clock on the day in question a Mr Jones came in with the last witness (Ploughman). They had a drink at the bar window. Macdermott was in the passage by himself. Shortly after she waited upon them in the dining room; they were then playing cards. Ploughman left first. She went upstairs, and hearing the door slammed, she came down, pushed the door open, and went inside. Macdermott was standing at the end of the table, and Jones was on the side with his coat; and hat on. She stood between them and told them she would have no fighting there. Her husband was absent in Auckland. Macdermott said Jones was a coward. He would make no disturbance in the room. Jones said, “What is that?" Macdermott replied, "You are a coward.” Jones then chal1enged him and they went to the side of the house. Saw no blows struck. Jones left, and MacDermott returned to the hotel, and asked if he had not behaved himself properly. She said she had no reason to complain, and he went home, as she supposed, on his horse. In about half-an-hour; Jones came into the bar, and was joined by Leaning, one of the workmen under him. Jones said he had shot at MacDermott, but missed him; but he would shoot him if it was in a week's time. He was sorry he had missed him. He was very much excited, and said, “By Jesus Christ, I’ll shoot him." He said he had not carried his pistol since he had been in this country, but he should carry it in future. Eliza Smith, daughter of George Smith, niece to Mrs Smith, and waitress at the hotel, corroborated. Alfred Gillman, son of Mr Gillman chemist, deposed to seeing the accused in the shop at two o'clock. He was bruised. He said Mac had knocked him down and kicked him. Edward Turner, labourer, deposed to seeing Jones pull something from his pocket and fire four shots at Macdermott, who put his hand to his side on receiving the first shot, and on turning his horse, three more shots were fired In succession. Had a distinct view of what occurred. Isaac C.F. Bell, saddler, Jno. Leeming, and Sergeant Greene having given evidence, the depositions were read over, and the prisoner fully committed for trial.


THE IRON WORKS MANAGER’S CRIME.

Onehunga was lazily somnolent in the early afternoon of a December day in I884. But standing in the doorway of a drapers shop was a revengeful man.
He was waiting to shoot down another who had reneged in a shilling euchre game and trumped his bower. The man who was wanted was an American, W. H. Jones. He had been brought to Onehunga as an expert in a new process to extract iron from the sands of the Manukau Heads.
About mid-day he had gone down to the Prince Albert Hotel for a couple of pints, engaged in a euchre game and then accused his opponent, a powerfully -built man of cheating. For this, Jones was beaten up and dragged round the hotel yard by the other card player.

SIX BULLETS.
Jones went home, got his revolver, and loaded its six chambers. Then he went down Onehunga’s Queen Street to a spot where the Farmer's Trading store now stands, and stood in the doorway of Court's drapery shop. He knew his enemy would be riding down to the wharf on his white horse about 2.30 p.m.
When the horse was about 20 yards away, Jones stepped to the edge of the kerb and drew the revolver from his pocket. The glint of its barrel in the sun caught the eye of the rider. He saw Jones and wheeled his horse, but two bullets lodged in his back. A third bullet buried itself in the wall of a shop across the road, narrowly missing the grocer there.
Jones then went across to the grocer's shop, sat down and declared he would never be taken alive....that he would shoot it out.

A BURLY SERGEANT.
Sergeant Barney Greene, a famous Onehunga policeman of the day, - 6ft. 2”, about 18 stone, and never without his shillelagh- arrived with an Auckland detective. He walked in and said to Jones: "Now come along, I want you”; Jones made no resistance and handed over the revolver with three of its chambers still loaded. The man he had shot lingered between life and death for eight days, but then recovered and lived to the age of 84. He died in Newmarket.
Jones was sentenced to 14 years penal servitude and served twelve of them before release.
There are two men living to-day who as boys in the street at the time saw the shooting.


THE SHOOTING OF JOHN McDERMOTT
From Mitchells papers.

Thirty years passed in Onehunga without the serene air of the village being disturbed by any happening of a substantial nature. Then on a few days prior to Christmas eve of 1883,the 21st of December to be exact, the people of the quiet settlement were shocked to learn that a 'murder' had been committed, in broad daylight, in the heart of the business area in Queen Street. Several eye witnesses of whom, one at least, is alive today (1950) namely Henry Gardiner (Oak) Williams, ran quickly from the scene calling out to everybody he met, that a man had been shot dead outside Sinclair's Grocery. In the outlying parts of Onehunga the ‘murder' was the sole topic of conversation until sober-minded people began severely to discount the rumours that followed one another in rapid succession from ‘a cloud of witnesses'. The newspaper reports which were published on the 22nd December, reduced the 'murder' to a matter of attempted murder, and householders who had barricaded their doors and secured their windows against invasion, were, able to face a night where vigilance could be safely relaxed. But there were a goodly proportion
who found a certain sense of satisfaction in the thought that the circumstances of the crime were unparallel in New Zealand and rather bore the appearance of sensationalism, more characteristic of the 'Wild West' states of America, in their wildest and most lawless times, than the conduct associated with the lives of British citizens residing in a village where a call for help could be heard at the Police Station. And when people were told by the village pundits that the 'killer' was a Yankee, there was, they felt, a rounding out of the tragedy which fitted into the general picture many people had formed of life in the United States, where crimes of violence were commonplace.
William Henry Jones had only been resident in New Zealand about 14 months when he was arrested for the attempted 'murder ‘of John McDermott. He was about 40 years of age, a native of one of the Midland Counties of England where he had entered the Iron and Steel industry as an apprentice. He went to Pennsylvania to further gain experience of methods said to be in advance of English practice and it was while he was manager of the Rockaway Ironworks, New Jersey, that he was engaged by Mr Joel Wilson, the patentee of a process to produce iron from iron sand, and thus acquired a first-hand knowledge of the new method which was regarded by experts as having opened up limitless possibilities in the iron and allied industries. Up to that time, about 1877, ironmasters had formed a definite opinion, based on adverse scientific reports, that iron sand could be disregarded for all practical purposes as a source of raw iron.
Jones had been induced to accept the manager ship of the New Zealand Iron and Steel Company by Mr Guy Gardiner, at a salary not quite as high as he was receiving when engaged, but with attractive possibilities in the shape of pronounced substantial increments as the ironworks expanded, together with parcels of gift shares.
The month of December 1883,was probably no warmer than that month in any year earlier, but working conditions in the Iron works were almost unbearably warm in any month of the year and all the more so in the heat of the summer. Jones had been accustomed to taking two hours off for his midday meal-his working day was never less than twelve hours for seven days a weekend licensee of the Prince Albert Hotel looked forward to the ironworks manager dropping in for half an hour daily, usually between 1.30 and 2pm for a schooner or two of beer. Another frequent caller was John McDermott whose parents came to New Zealand in the 'Berphmore' in June: 1648; his father was a Royal New Zealand Fencible. John was a man about 30 years, over six foot tall of heavy build. Jones on the other was of medium height, spare frame, but with strength in his muscles which had excited more than favourable notice of his workmen, so many of who had need of uncommon strength to perform their heavy work, were quick to observe the same quality in their superior.
On the 21st of December four men sat down to play a card game-euchre- at a shilling a corner. After several games two of the players withdrew and left the hotel card room. Jones and McDermott agreed to carry on for another five games. McDermott worked in his father’s market garden and this was his free day. Just what gave rise to the quarrel the two men had and the subsequent fight in the hotel yard was never clearly elucidated. Jones, it was believed, accused McDermott of cheating and the latter leant across the table and punched his accuser full in the face. Jones was thrown on the floor by McDermott and dragged outside where Jones reco¬vered sufficiently to exchange several blows with the aggressor.
But the contest was an unequal one in every way and to add to the sting of defeat Jones had to suffer being dragged around the gravelled yard, a proceeding which tore patches of skin from his face, rendering him, in the words of 'Oak' Williams who saw him in Queen street a little later ‘a dreadful sight to see'. Jones went to his home, washed off as much blood as possible, took a revolver from a drawer in his dressing-table, and inserted five cartridges. He then walked to Mr Gillman's chemist shop and asked Mr Gillman to dress his blackened eyes so that he could see reason¬ably clearly. This was done to his satisfaction and he then walked in a northerly direction in Queen Street until he reached a point near where F.W. Court and sons shop stands and took up a watching position there.
In the meantime John McDermott remained in the hotel talking to the landlord, Mr James Smith for fully 30 minutes. He was in the habit of riding his horse down to the wharf once a week and he set off for this purpose down Queen Street, mounted on his white horse. On the edge of the footpath he saw Jones and apprehensive lest Jones should attempt to pull him off his mount, he checked the animal and made a sharp turn to the right. At that moment he saw Jones raise his arm and he caught the reflection of the steel barrel. Jones fired three shots at least. Some bystanders who were unable to take any steps to restrain Jones, so sudden was his action, said afterwards he fired four or five shots, McDermott called out “l'm shot, l’m shot” and went full gallop up Queen Street and on to his father’s house, about three quarters of a mile, in Manukau Road where he collapsed as he tried to open a gate leading into the horse paddock.
Dr W.G. Scott quickly responded to a request for his attendance on the stricken man. He found that two bullets had struck McDermott, one had gone right through his left thigh without touching an artery and the other had penetrated his back just to the left of the spinal column and lodged under the left armpit. Dr Scott considered the wounded mans case was critical and asked Dr Stockwell, who was also practicing in Onehunga, to be called for a con¬sultation. Dr Stockwell agreed that the injuries sustained might well prove fatal.
Meanwhile Jones crossed the street to the eastern side and entered Sinclair’s Grocery Shop. Sergeant Green had been informed of the shooting by a boy who was a witness-the street was deserted within a few minutes of the first shot ringing out, and accompanied by detective Walker, of Auckland who was carrying out an investigation into a recent burglary in Onehunga, walked up to the scene and met Jones outside Mr J. Oats Shoe store. The two police officers were unarmed and although warned that Jones was in a dangerous state of mind by several shopkeepers who stood at their doors, they walked calmly up to Jones and arrested him.
The revolver was handed to them by Mr F. Blakey in the prison yard later who had earlier received it from Jones. The police officers allowed Jones to walk down to the lock-up without handcuffing, a proceeding which led to their action being severely criticised by Onehunga people. The police officers said afterwards that Jones was not under the influence of liquor when they arrested him rather he appeared shocked at what he had done.
As McDermott’s condition became progressively worse, the doctors, Scott and Stockwell recommended Sergeant Green to arrange for his depositions to be taken, by Harsant, who was a Justice of the peace living in retirement in Onehunga, accordingly visited McDermott’s house and recorded his depositions in the presence of Doctors Scott and Stockwell, Sergeant Greene and the accused man Jones.
McDermott’s condition was extremely critical for the next 24 hours and then improved until the New Zealand Herald was able to inform its readers, on the 31st of December 1883 that McDermott’s ultimate recovery was assured, a fortunate outcome for Jones who would most certainly have had to stand his trial for murder otherwise.
Jones was tried on a charge of shooting with the intent to kill John McDermott, in the Supreme Court, Auckland on the 2nd of April 1884, Mr Justice Gillies presided. Jones pleaded guilty and on his behalf, Mr James McIntyre, proprietor of Clyde Engineering works, and Mr John Learning, testified to the excellent character Jones had borne since his arrival in Onehunga. McDermott at the conclusion of his evidence said that ‘drink was the cause of the trouble. He concluded by saying “I heartily forgive Jones for what he done, and I pray the court to be merciful to the prisoner”, but the judge did not see that any grounds for being merciful were present. Twenty to thirty minutes had elapsed between the fight in the hotel yard and the actual shooting, and one, at least, of the wounds inflicted could well have proved fatal. He then sentenced Jones to 14 years penal servitude. The Auckland star said the severity of the sentence created a sensation in the court when it was delivered. Jones served 12 years of his sentence and on his release commenced poultry farming in the Penrose district. McDermott died at New Market in 1941 aged 88 years.
William Henry Jones disappears from the scene where his employers had hoped for so much from his knowledge of iron-founding and his understanding of the expert working of the Joel Wilson patent furnace and the various processes associated with its name. On at least three occasions Mr J Chambers, when addressing shareholders, referred feelingly to the heavy blow the ironworks at Onehunga had sustained through Jones expert services being no longer available after December 1883. Mr Chamber said he had pinned all his hopes on Jones and it was only the unkind hand of fate which had deprived the iron sand industry of the one man capable of proving iron could be produced from titaniferous sand.