SINGULAR SHOOTING AFFRAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 198, 21 August 1900, Page 2

SINGULAR SHOOTING AFFRAY.

A sensational shooting affray occurred on July 10th at Black Hill, Ballarat East. An elderly man named George Smith, residing altone in a hut off Napier-st., enticed into his house two girls, aged about 11 years. After giving one of them a small sum of mtoney, it is alleged he committed a criminal assault upon her. The other girl was not present when the offence was committed, but subsequently the victim told her mother, and Constable Carroll was despatched to arrest Smith, who has only one eye. Carroll on entering the hut ■was fired at by Smith with a revolver, but the bullet missed the constable. He then retired for assistance, and brought up Constable • Arberry and Senior Constable Magor. They found the hut door barricaded, and Smith, from the inside, fired at every point where he heard a voice. Senior Constable Magor summoned reinforcements from the city camp, and the police were also sent frtyn Ballarat East and Ballarat North, under Sergeants Biggs and Balchin, all armed. When the last reinforcements arrived, three axes were brought to bear on the door and windows of the building, and an entrance was effected. Sergeant Balchin was the first in, arid he secured Smith, who had ceased firing. The revolver and 30 bail cartridges were found lying on

his bed.,He was lodged in the Ballarat East lock up, charged with assaulting the girl. Constable Arberry was slightly wounded on the hip by one of the bullets fired by Smith, and Mr Jas. Balfour, who went to the assistance of the police, was grazed on the hand by another. Smith was for many years a boiler maker's assistant in the raill way workshop in Melbourne. He will probably be also charged with shooting with intent, and it is also probable that the affair will form the subject of departmental police inquiry.