SHOOTING CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 102, 2 May 1931, Page 7

SHOOTING CASE.

! CHARGE AGAINST NUNN. i — ! ACCUSED SOBS IN DOCK. I ! EVIDENCE OF DETECTIVE. ' '•'COULD SAY WHO SHOT HER." (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, this day. The preliminary hearing of the charge I of attempting to- murder Mavis Steele ■ Smith. ma<ie against Hubert Frederick 1 Nunn was continued before Mr. A. M. j Mowlem, S.M.. in the Police Court 1 to-day. Mr. E. J. Hallett appeared for acI cused. and Inspector Cumrnings for the i police. J. E. Duunett. borough traffic inspector, testified that upon inspecting Xunn's car on the morning of April 1, the morning of the alleged offence, he found three knives and two undischarged cartridges. He was- of the opinion that I the car had been used an hour before I his inspection, which he made at 3 a.m. Constable Dunn said that when mak- ! iug an examination in the vicinity of ! Smith's house 011 the same morning ho ! found fresh marks of tyres, and a key. ' which XunnV housekeeper identified as j : the key of the back door of Xunn's j j house. " The marks were such ,w would j be made by the tyres of Nunn 6 car. Detective Farqnharson stated that he j found a cartridge "'ad when inspecting ! the grounds of Smith's house. On April ; 7 he went to Nairn's house and told \ Nunn the girl had accused him of shootI hi"; her. Accused replied; "Poo.- Mavis." ; and added that he was prepared to j answer any questions. He seemed to I be suffering from severe mental strain, j and was shaking and trembling all over. I He said he had" a sun and told the dej tective where to rind it. Examination I showed that the right barrel had been ! discharged. He did not reply when j asked if he had been out in his car the previous night. When He "Used Gun. Witness said lie went outside to examine the car. Nunn collapsed. Witness asked whether he had taken anything, and Nunn replied. "No." He was "shaky, and he staggered in his walk. At the police station accused said, when asked when he last used his gun, "Yesterday, on the riverbed, shooting rabbits.*'* He said he used only one shot. j Asked where he had been in his car I the previous evening, he said. "I did not shoot Mavis Smit.h I may have been instrumental —the silly young devil." At this point in the detective's eviI dence accused broke down, sobbing. The detective said he asked Nunn if he could say who shot her. Nunn reI plied. 'T could do so. but not yet.' 5 When charged, accused replied, "All right."' Inside a signet ring on accused's finger was inscribed the name "Mavis." Nunn saw witness examine the ring, and broke down here. Committed for Trial. Accused again showed signs of emotion, and at hk counsel's request the Court was adjourned for a few minutes. Referring to the examination of Smith's house, witness said there were | 5" shot pellets in the woodwork. Wit- j ness saw Miss Smith's wounds photo- | graphed, and he counted 12(> pellet marks in her body. Recalled. Miss Smith said the ring engraved "Mavk" was not hers. Nunn once gave her a ring with his name on it. She never wore it. Nunn pleaded not guilty, and he was committed to stand his trial at Napier on May 25. laying that accused owned much pro- ; perty. which needed attention, Mr. HalI lett asked for bail. The magistrate said the granting of bail was discretionary. and refused.