SHOT HIS FATHER.

Auckland Star, Volume 23, Issue 23, 28 January 1926, Page 12

SHOT HIS FATHER.

END OF FAMILY ARGUMENT. MELBOURNE SENSATION. YOUNG MAX ARRESTED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY. January 22. Another Melbourne sensation was j provided at the week-end. when Benjamin Kalian, 42. of (lark Street. East Prahran. was admitted to the Alfred Hospital with gunshot wounds in his abdomen, and his son Charles, aged 17, was arrested and charged with shooting with intent to murder. ; It was found when a close cxamina-j tion of the elder Gahan was made that the bullet had become embedded in his abdomen and that severe hemorrhage had occurred. Un Saturday night, soon after the occurrence, when it was discovered that . blood transfusion was necessary, the son ( harles, who is charged with the .shooting,' offered to give his blood to save the life of bis father. Ilis blood was tested, but was found to bo unsuitable, and a hospital attendant who volunteered gave a pint of his own blood. The shooting, according to the statement of Mrs. Gahan, was the culmination of a long [icriod of domestic discord. She said that her husband was kindhearted, in a way. but could not bear any opposition, and had a frightful temper. Un Saturday morning, an argument developed over a discussion that the electric trams went over the l'rince's Bridge. Gahan, sen., said they did not, and when one of the family said that they did. be threw down bis shaving mug and broke it on the floor. He went away in a bad temper, and came home lute. Apparently he had been drinking. The younger children had been climbing a tree in the back yard, and he called to them to come in. Freddie, the youngest, ran away screaming because he knew what he would get. Her husband came in in a rage, picked up the carving knife, and threatened her across the table. Her sister, who lives in the house, snatched it away from him. Then he seized a table knife, and said he tvould do for them all. Her son Charles had been sent to get Freddie in the meantime, and her husband took Freddie into the bedroom. He had a strap, and began to beat the child unmercifully. "I rushed in," said Mrs. Gahan, "and my husband caught hold of Freddie by the mouth, and then seized him across the throat. He said 'I'll choke you.' He was choking the boy, and I grabbed his arm. I struggled with him, but could see that he was mastering mc and would kill the baby. I screamed out 'murder.' "Charlie rushed in with the ritle. He must have thought it tvas mc his father was choking, for I heard him say 'leave her alone' three times. My husband called out, 'I'll do for the lot "of you.' "Then I heard a shot, and my husband groaned and fell on the floor. My nephew ran for the doctor, but he would not come until the police had been. My son gave himself up to the police." It is stated that after the Avounded man finished making his dying depositions at the hospital, he said, "If Charlie shot mc, I forgive him." Charles Gahan has been charged at Prahran Court with shooting at his father with intent to murder him. He was remanded.