MERCER SHOOTING

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 113, 16 May 1933, Page 3

MERCER SHOOTING

YOUTH FOR TRIAL. EXPLANATION TO POLICE. "FELT PRETTY NERVOUS." TTic hearing of evidence on tlic charge of attempting to murder James Pennineton Bate?, at Mercer, on April 14, brought against Christopher Nlvon, electrician, aged 19, was completed in the Police Court before Mr. Wyvcrn Wilson, S.M., late yesterday afternon. Chief Detective Sweeney prosecuted, accused being represented by Mr. W. Noble. Detective-Sergeant Doyle, who saw accused when he was brought to Hamilton, detailed an interview with him. Niven still mentioned that he was "Tommy James," and that he came from Tauranga. He said ho had been in Tauranga all his life. Witness asked him the name of the constable stationed at Tauranga, and Niven »aid "Skinner used to be there." "I told him Constable Skinner was still there and had never been away,' , continued Mr. Doyle. "I asked him where he was yesterday and where he slept last night. Niven said he slept in a haystack. I told him I would send for Mr. Churchill, as he knew a man named Xiven, who was wanted for shooting a man at Mercer last night." Accused said, "Who is Mr. Churchill? I don't know him and I never heard of the Maori Hostel." "Cannot Bluff Any Longer." Witness told accused he would be detained until he could get Mr. Churchill. If Churchill could eay he was not Niven that would settle the matter. Accused hesitated and then said, "Well, I cannot bluff it any longer. What will I rr O t —life? I know I should not have shot him, but I was nervous." Detective-Sergeant Doyle then warned accused, who afterwards made a statement (produced). In the statement Niven admitted taking the revolver from his step-father's room, as he wanted to go to Australia and make a clean start. He said he knew the police would be looking for him. That night and all the next clay he stayed in a railway truck and commenced to walk the next night towards Hamilton. "Pretty Nervous." • Referring to the shooting in his statement, Niven said: "He would not let me drive away, <so I got out and pointed the gun at him. I told him to walk down the road, as I wanted to'get rid of him. I had the gun in my hand. He was advancing and I was backing away. I felt pretty nervous by then, and all of a sudden the gun went oil. It happened to be pointing pretty low and I thought it got him in the stomach. I was bewildered and nervous and the gun went off again, and I climbed into the car and shot off down the road. I hope the man is not seriously injured. It was nerves that caused the revolver to fire." Accused pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. For converting a car to his own use he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment,.