AT WELLINGTON. VERY SERIOUS CHARGES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8724, 25 November 1913, Page 4

AT WELLINGTON. VERY SERIOUS CHARGES.

ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO iKTRDER

COMMISSIONER CULLEN

SIGNED STATEMENTS REPU-

DIATED

WELLINGTON, November 24.

At the Magistrate's Court, James Patrick Hassett was charged with taking part in a riot in Taranaki Street on November 3, also witli attempting to murder Police Commissioner Culle.n on the sumo date. He was further

chargod with assaulting a special constable on Nov. 8. The first witness, Andrew Kelly, declared he was standing near Thomson's shop on tiie night of the riot. A man was beside him. In answer to counsel witness said he did not know whether the man was the accused or not. Ho persisted in this statement -when counsel asked if it was not a fact that he had previously told the police that the man beside him was Hassett. Tho Magistrate warned witness that Jio might be prosecuted for perjury. In answer to further questions, witnesssaid ho could not say whether or not the accused lired at Mr Cullen or anybody. He added that the weapon in the man's hand was only a toy pistol. Counsel read a statement made, to the police signed by Kelly in which lie said that Has-sett was standing beside him. He saw him fin* live shots witli a revolver. He had presented a revolver at Mr Cullon. Witness said he wished to contradict the statement: It had not boon road over to him before signing. Counsel treated Kolly as a hbstiio witness. Venetta Thomson, the daughter of tho keeper of t!io shop under the vcran- - dali of which tin* shooting took place,, said uhe saw the man fire threo or four shots. Afterwards the rr.au wont inlo the shop and wln'h reloading the revolver, it went o!F. .In answer ''to counsel, wilness stated that the accused' was not the man she mwv with the revolver. Sl"> could not s;! v v whether'tho .man had a moustache or not. The accused wast-not the man who ideiltifi.-v! in the police station' yard: Witti'^J-'s identified tho previous witness, K".IIy, as..the oihci- man who was- iv the ish:;;> at -tho time hut reiterated her sljitcjnent tiiat tho man with the revolvnr was not accused.

Philip Do Sou,s:i gave evidence as to seeing Has-sott within live yards of Thomson's shop shortly' after the firing ceased. Commissioner Cullon stated that he heard several bullets whistle close', lo him. He sa.-.v flashes of and heard 'reports of fully a dozen shots, many from under Thomson's verandah. Alice Karp gave evidence as to witnessing the shooting, but was not surewhether or not it was accused who tired the revolver. Sergt. Taylor stated that he saw tho accused amongst the crowd under tho verandah. ' Constable Bissott said he saw Hassett near tho store. Captain Eymans, an artilleryman, testified as to the state of the riot and to being struck with a bullet which penetrated His overcoat, coat, trousers and grazed his hip. The bullet lodged in his trousers. , . Charles Body, another artilleryman, also said that he was struck by a bullet, which lodged in his clothing. Detective C'assels gave evidence of the arrest, and said that when arrested the accused said: '"Were you there? I did not see you there." On being charged subsequently, he denied having been in the vicinity of the riot. Next morning he admitted being amongst the crowd. The witness Thomson had identified the accused from among six other men,. stating that to the best of ■ her belief Hassett was the man • who did tho shooting. The accused then had a moustache, b\vt since his first appearance in Court had shaved it off:' .. This made a wonderful difference in his appearance. Referring to Kelly's declaration that the written statement had not been read to him, witness said he had written- it at Kelly's dictation. The latter had said he did not want ie : read and that everything was alright. Corroborative evidence was given b,v Detective Mason. The.accused pleaded not guilty "to the charges of attempted murder and taking part in the riot and was committed for trial. Bail was fixed at £200. Ho was convicted for assaulting a special constable and fined £5 or one month's imprisonment.