SENT FOR TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 263, 5 November 1932, Page 11

SENT FOR TRIAL.

SHOOTING CASE AT ROSS.

attempted murder charge

INJURED max makes, statement

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

HOKITIKA, Friday.

At the conclusion of the preliminary, tearing of the charge against George William Muir 'of the attempted murder of Atliol Crowe Potter, at Ross, on September S, in the Magistrate's Court today, accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Greymouth for trial. The question of bail was reserved. It was alleged that Potter was shot late at night near a bach.

Further evidence was heard this afternoon. Charles Robert Highet said he first saw Muir 011 the. night of the shooting at a hotel. They had a round of drinks,, and after leaving proceeded to a bacli, Muir accompanying witness and Potter. After being at the bach'for 6ome minutes Muir was told to leave, aiid witness took him by the shoulder and put him out, but. there was 110 (struggle. Muir seemed to have gone, but about ten minutes later he called to stating that he wished to gee liini alone. Potter went outside, and a few seconds after witness went to the door.

jThe other two men moved into the road, continued witness, and he heard' accused say to Potter, "You are keeping something;' from your' mate." Witness went to the road and. told Muir to go home. Muir turned as if to go home., H3 walked to a fence, stooped down, and appeared to pick up something. Witness heard the noise as of a gun being cocked. Potter and witness were then on the footpath, making for the cottage. They heard Muir say something. Then witness heard the report of a rifle, turned and saw Potter clutching at his ■side with both hands.

Accused was about 22ft away at the time, continued witness. When he heard the shot, witness made for the cottage door. Potter said, "He's shot me." When witness got to the verandah he called to Potter to come in. Potter got to the verandah and dropped at the door. He crawled in on bis hands and knees. Witness locked the door and extinguished the light. He heard accused just outside saying, "Come out." After a quarter of an hour witness assisted Potter to the police station and reported the matter.

Regarding the allegation that witness was keeping something from Potter, witness said be knew nothing. They were the best of friends, and were 011 confidential terms. Highet continued that Muir was-the only one he saw who could be the cause of the shooting. :He had no doubt who caused the injury.

Constable Povvley said that at one o'clock! in the morning Potter and Highet called at the station. He examined Potter, who was in great pain, and stated that he had been shot. At 6;30 witness went to accused's home. Accused was in bed, and no one else was in the house. On witness asking about trouble with Potter, Muir said there was none.

Witness said he told Muir that Potter eaid that Muir had shot him. Muir denied this, saying he had left him talking to his mate about midnight, after leaving the hotel, and had not seen him since. Asked for a statement, Muir sa'd he was not bound to give one. Witness told accused to dress. He asked for accused's rifle, and was told it was in the kitchen and had not been usaed for some time. The rifle was taken by witness to the station.

Witness searched Muir and found four .22 calibre bullets in a pocket in his trousers, and one packet. Accused said he had had' them, in hie pocket for a long time. , He stated that hfe had more at home, and, going there, brought 107 pea, irifle rounds. He also had a shotwhich viitness took. A further eearck of Muir's-house, revealed a ■ pullthroiugh, which.' appeared to have recently been used, continued witness. On October 26 a man named McLennan handed him a shell, which he said he had; found opposite the section near Peebles' bach, but witness considered it hai heen placed there since, the .first •earch, as it had not been subjected to weather exposure.