TO STAND TRIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 9

TO STAND TRIAL

HASTINGS SHOOTING CASE. NTINN NOT ALLOWED BAIL. ACCUSED EMOTIONAL IN COURT. - (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, this day. Continuing his evidence on Saturday afternoon at the preliminary hearing of the charge of attempting to murder Mavis Steele Smith,, made . against Hubert Frederick Nunn, before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., in the Police .Court, Detective Farquharson eaid that when he visited the home of the accused on April 7 and 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 hie gun, "Yesterday on the riverbed, shooting rabbits." He said he used only one shot. Asked- where he had been in his car the previous evening, he said, "I did not. shoot ; Mavie Smith. I may have been instrumental— the silly young devil:";; ;. ■ '•'.

At this point in the detective's--evi-dence accused broke down, sobbing. The detective said he asked Nunn if he could say who shot her. . Nunn -replied, "I could do so, but not yet." When charged, accused replied, "All right." " ' . : . '..'•■ Inside a signet ring on accused's finger was inscribed the name "Mavis." Niinn saw witness examine . the ring, and broke down,here. • Referring to the . examination of Smith's house, witness said there were 57 ehot pellets in, the ,woodwork. Witness saw Miss Smith's wounds-photo-graphed, and , he counted . 126 pellet marks in her body.,''-." . Recalled, Miss Smith said ' the ring engraved "Mavis" was not hers. Nunn once gave her a ring with his name on it. She never wore- it. Nunn pleaded not guilty, ,aasd*lie w»s committed ■to stand his trial at Napier on May 25. . / '-'■ ■ '■ ■;• ;'•■■ ■' Saying that accused owned.much property, which needed attention, Mr. Hallett "asked ; for bail. The magistrate said the granting of bail was discretionary. Be refused to grant the application.