SHOTS FIRED ACROSS A CROWDED COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 148, 22 June 1918, Page 15

SHOTS FIRED ACROSS A CROWDED COURT.

CINEMA THRILLS OUTDONE AT SAN FRANCISCO. There was a dramatic finish to the trial in San Francisco of 32 persons charged with conspiring for revolution in India. One defendant shot another dead, and was himself immediately shot dead by a United States court marshal in court. Both dead men were Hindus.

After proceedings, which began as long ago as November 30, the District Attorney about the middle of April made his closing address, and it only remained for .Judge -fleet to address the jury. The judge announced a short interval. The court was crowded. On one side sat the defendants in a cluster, and on the other side of the court was the jury-box.

The whole body of persons present, visiters., officials, lawyers, and jurymen, were on the move when the judge left the bench.

Suddenly the Hindu defendant Ram Chandra rose to cross the room. 'Another defendant, Ram Singh, rose immediately, tool; a revolver from his clothing, and began filing. Ham Chandra staggered forward, and fell down before the witness stand, with one bullet in his heart and two others in his body.

Between him and the murderer on the her side of the court was a press, of moving people when the firing began. The court room was in confusion. Spectators, defendants, counsel and others darted for cover, overturning chairs and tables In their flight. Soldiers and a body of marshals rushed to all the exits with drawn ! revolvers.

One man remained cool. United States Marshal .lames llolohan, a man of huge stature with a great reputation as a revolver shot, who had throughout the hearing been by the side of the jury box. At the first shot llolohan, quick as lightning, drew his revolver, elevated his arm above his head to clear the people ia between, and fired at Ram Singh. The bullet broke Singh's neck, killing hlui instantly.

A quarrel about property to be used for the proposed Indian revolution is supposeto have been the origin of the shooting.

Twenty-nine of the remaining 30 defendants were found guilty by the Court, says I a Reuters message.