MYSTERY SHOTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 85, 11 April 1933, Page 9

MYSTERY SHOTS.

TE PUKE SENSATION

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE.

FARM HAND'S COURTSHIP.

(By Telepraph.—Press Association.)

TE PUKE, this day. *

On the evening of Sunday, March 26, ■when Mr. and Mrs. F. S. K. Broad and their son and daughter were seated at table in the kitchen at their home at Jfangatoi, nine miles from Te Puke, they were disturbed by a shot smashing window and lodging in the wall in a' direct line with Mr. Broad's head. Another shot struck a picture. Mr. Broad extinguished the light and went 'outside, but was unable to discover any-

On the following day Colin Alfred jeujen, a farm hand, aged 25, was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He appeared before the Court at Te Puke and was remanded to Hamilton and again to Te Puke, where he appeared this morning before Messrs. H. A. Washer and Geo. Sweetman, J.P.'s. Accused was represented by Mr. L...E. Manning (Te Puke) and pleaded not guilty. Detective White, of Hamilton, conducted the case for the police.

Constable Naylor, of Hamilton, produced photographs of the locality, one showing the position in which Mr. Broad was sitting when the shot® were fired.

Reginald Jensen, a brother of accused, gave evidence that he purchased .32 cartridges on tho evening of March 25 and gave them to his brother.

Shot 3 Through Window. Frederick Sydney Kerr Broad stated that he was sitting in the kitchen at his home with his wife and daughter and one of his sons on the evening of March 26. They had supper and about 9.25 they were disturbed by the dogs, barking. He went 'outside to ascertain the cause, but was unable to do so. He returned to,the room, and two shots were immediately fired through the window. He plaqed his wife and children in a room adjoining the kitchen and put out the light. He then went outside, but failed to make any discovery. He then took his wife and family to a neighbour's home half a mile away. He was unable to communicate with fhe police by telephone, and returned home with a neighbour, Mr. Douglas, and his son George. They searched the hut in which his son slept and found that a revolver was missing. He then went to Te Puke for the police.

George Broad, in evidence, said the missing revolver was of .32 calibre and fire chambered and it was kept in a bag in a drawer in the hut. He had not seen it out of the bag for twelve months or more. He was at the home of their neighbour, Mr. Douglas, on the evening of the occurrence. About nine o'clock he heard a noise as though the telephone line had been struck with a stick. About ten o'clock his family arrived and reported the incident. On searching the hut he found his rifle and shotgun and ammunition still there, but the revolver was missing. It was the one produced in Court.

Proposal of Marriage. Avis May Broad, daughter of Frederick Broad, said she was away from home in Auckland working for from three to four years. She first met accused on a visit home in January last year. After ho had-known her about a week he proposed to her, but she refused. Accused accepted her refusal in gobd spirit and later he renewed his suit, but she eaid 6he had no desire to be engaged. She returned to Auckland and they corresponded. Accused visited her in Auckland, being there about four days. They parted on good terms and corresponded till about May last. Slie had not seen accused since then and they had not quarrelled. Detective White, of Hamilton, stated that he wa3 in Te Puke on the day in question and visited the locality that night. He found various articles which accused and his mother on the following day identified as accused's property. Accused was then taken to Te Puke, where ho' made a etatement in which, he admitted the occurrence and later assisted the police. They found a revolver, which contained two discharged shells and three bullets.

Committed for Trial. Mr. Manning, on behalf of accused, pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court in Auckland for trial.