"FIGHTING MAD."

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1926, Page 5

"FIGHTING MAD."

SHOOTING GAIXEBY FRACAS. victim shoots rescuer, In Levinson'9 George Street shooting gallery on March 5 there was a fracas, the outcome of which was that William Francis Robertson, a gallery attendant, was shot in the stomach. For days his life was in danger. The story was told at the Central Police Court, where John Walter Sheaf was charged with shooting at Robertson with intent to murder him. Robertson, who is a returned soldier, still looked very ill, and had to ba assisted into the witness box. He spoke with difficulty, and appeared to be in great pain. He said that about 7 p.m. on March 5 he saw accused at the shooting gallery. "He stopped at a punching machine," said witness, "and two drunken louts challenged him to punch, on the machine for two bob. He didn't want to have anything to do with them, but they kept pressing. "Sheaf won the punch and took the 2/. The other two kept on punching, made a bigger punch than his, and demanded the 4/. "He said. -No.' With that they got into him —knocked him down, kicked and punched him all over, unmercifully. I went to his assistance, and got knocked out. "I called on the public to protect him, which they did. They dished the other two fellows up in good style . . . Sheaf came to, and was getting up in a sort of dazed way, and said he would shoot someone." Witness said he hurried to move the rifles out of the way, but Sheaf grabbed at them, and two went off accidentally, and Robertson was wounded in the stomach and the finger. "I cried out, 'I'm shot!'" he said. "No one would come to my assistance. I stood there till I collapsed ... It seemed hours. But I was not unconscious. They were trying to steal my watch and chain out of my pocket." Another gallery attendant. Charles Harper, contradicted part of this evidence. He said the fight was between Sheaf and a mate against two other men. Sheaf ran after the gun went off. He struggled with him, but Sheaf struck him. Detective Robinson said he took Sheaf\ to the injured man's bedside at Sydney Hospital, and Robertson said to him: "It's all right, old man. I know yott didn't mean to shoot mc." Medical evidence was that the defendant was operated on, and the bullet, which had pierced his intestine, removed. A further operation to remove a kidney was still necessary. Mr Gates, said he was satisfied there was no case of shooting with' intent to murder. "This is a case of inflicting grievous bodily harm, I think," he said. Mr. E. R. Abigail (for the accused)' submitted that no jury would convict. Harper's evidence was confused. Accused was fighting mad, and Robertson's evidence was what counted. Had Robertson died the verdict would have been "death from misadventure." Mr. Gates put the case over for consideration.