SENSATIONAL OCCURRENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 109, 11 May 1896, Page 5

SENSATIONAL OCCURRENCE.

A YOUNG WOMAN SHOT IN THE

THE LEG.

ARREST OF MR H. V. MARTIN.

A sensational incident occurred in Q'Connell .breeb aboub ten o'clock on Saturday nighb, a young woman named Miss Edith Williamß being ahot through tho calf of the righb leg. So far aa can be gathered the particulars are aa follows :—Henry Vincenb Martin, a man of a licble over thirty years of age, occupied rooms in High-street, nexb to tho premises of Mr W. McCullough, printer. He is an engraver, and it wan here he carried on his business and resided. Mr Charles Johnson, head storeman and caretaker at Messrs Brown, Campbell and Co.'s, Shortlandstreet, living with hie wife and family at the back of his employers'.stores, had occasion to go to Shortland-street to make a purchase. Mrs Johnson and her bwo daughters wenb to the streeo gate to wait for him, and while there tbey heard a noise proceeding from Martin's back room, which commands a view of O'Connell-streeb, and of Mr Johnson's house and premises. They crossed the street, looked over the fence, saw Martin's room window was half open, and thab he waa walking up and down, talking to himself and gesticulating. Mr. Johnson made some remark as to his strange conduct, when one of the daughters, Maude, seeing the flash of a pistol ahot, called out, " Run, he's going bo shoot," They burned to run, when a second shot waa fired, and Misa Edith Williams (who is a step-daugbter of Mr Johnson), immediabely called out she was # shot, and limped. across the streeb bo her father's house and fainted. Sho stated thab 6_e had been sh'ob in the calf of the leg, a second pistol shot being fired in close succession. Miss Maud Johnson immediately ran to Vulcan Lane, where she informed several gelitlemen of the occurrence, and tho police and medical assistance was summoned. Constable Miller while on duty in Queen-street at 10.15 was informed of tbe episode. Aboub bwenby people assembled, and Martin was watched through the window, gesticulating and talking in a loud voice. After Borne considerable time Detective Grace and Constable Brian came to the rescue. The work of arresting Martin waao proceeded with. Detective Grace and Constable Miller went to the front of the premises in High - streeb and Constable Brian to the back facing O'CoDnell • streeb. The fronb door was found to be locked, and Detective Grace had at last to burst ib in. Proceeding up the staircase, Detective Grace found the door at tbe top locked alao, and after vainly asking admittance from Martin, he at last bursb bbab door in also, Consbable Miller holding tbe lighb for him to operate. On getting inside Martin was secured by the police officer. Detective Grace and Constablo Miller on searching the room found a six-chamber revolver on a box aboub one yard distant from Martin's bed. The revolver was taken to pieces. An examination showed that bwo shots had recenbly been fired out of bhe revolver.

According to tho police Martin made a voluntary statement when brought bo the station. He is reported to have said thab bhe bullets in the revolver gob stuck, and brying to extract them was the cause of the two shots being fired.

Dr. Lindsay dressed the injured young lady's wound. It was found thab bhe bullet wenb into the flash parb of bhe calf ab one side and passed out ab bbc other. The fence of the vacant allobmenb was examined yesterday, and a bullet hole discovered about two feet from the ground and the bullet which had penetrated inch planking, was found in the streeb gutter. The obher bullebhas nob been found.

Accused was charged ab the Police Courb bo-day with having on the 9th May, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, shot one Edith Williams.

Sergeant McMahon asked for a remand for eighb days, on bhe ground thab the injured girl was unable to leave her bed. Mr Brassey appeared for bhe accused and asked for bail. He pointed out thab ib was a totally different case to tbe one which occurred some time ago, when a solicitor charged another with shooting at bim in his office. In thab case the charge was a much more serious one, and yeb bail was allowed. Accused waa ab the time cleaning a revolver. The girl who was' injured wa3 quite unknown to him, and there was no intent to kill. When the case came on ib would be shown bhab bhe shooting was purely accidental. Sergb. McMahon objected to bail as he considered the act had been deliberate.

The Bench decided to adjourn the case for a week and refuse bail. Accused will, however, be brought up again as soon as the girl can attend the Court.