FATAL SHOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 23, 28 January 1937, Page 8

FATAL SHOT.

IN CITY BANK.

YOUTH CHARGED.

CROWN EVIDENCE.

INVERCARGILL SENSATION.

OTHER CASES DISMISSED

(By TvlPirrnpli.—Prpgs Association.) INVi;UCAK(;iLL, this dav

Tlie investigation regard ing the. bunk sliootinp- ruse early on tliu morning of December -7 began before ~Slv. W. H. Freeman, S.M., to-day, when the inquest into the death of Michael Fletcher and criminal charges were taken together, Oswald Cameron t'owie, aped 17.

was

charged with killing Michael Fletcher, and three youths, William Martin Robertson, Tangl Kitson, and William

Thomas McQuarrie, who were concerned in the matter, were jointly charged with being found cm hank premises without lawful excuse under circuinstances which did not disclose the commission of or intent to commit a crime. Tins three young men, Robertson, Kitson and McQuarrie, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Mr. Horace Macalister, for the CroWn, said the charges were laid under Section 51 of the Police Offences Act. The facts were that early on the morning of December 27 the three defendants and another yonng man called at the bank, having seen a light, and they rang the bell at the back door. They had no particular reason for being there. They said they thought there was a party, and they wanted to be in it. One of the clerks opened the door, and, as a result of what wae said, the four went upstairs, and apparently spent some time there. There was some conflict as to what actually happened at the door.

Bank Clerks' Stones,

Edward Allan Wyatt, aged 20, a bank clerk employed by the bank, said that on the night of December 20 he was in the sleeping quarter* of the Bank. Oswald Cowie was with him early on the morning of December 27. There was a ring at the back door bell. He went down, opened the door, and saw four me,n, none of whom he knew. They adcanced over the threshold, and one of them said he knew a man who used to be in the bank. After a short conversation they all went upstairs, hut he did not remember under what circumstances. He had not invited them there, and had not seen them before.

To Mr. Crnickshank: They eaid they knew Les Nicol. He did not remember inviting them, and he did not remember any of the rest of the conversation. They were upstairs abotlt three hours. He did not try to obstruct them in going npstaire. He did not remember them asking if there was a party on. He did not ask them to come along to the building. He went upstairs with the aien.

Oswald Cameron Cowie, aged 17, a bank clerk, eaid he was in the sleeping premises of the bank on December 26. The , back door bell was rung about two o'clock on the morning of December 27. He went halfway down and heard voices.

Kevolrer ia Hand.

He heard the name Nicol mentioned. Witness thought there' would be inkchief, and he went back upstairs. He took the revolver from his bedroom, pnt it in his pocket and went down to the basement. The men were talking to Wyatt, and witness took the revolver from his pocket. He held it in his hand eo that the men could see it, and asked them to leave. Wyatt asked him for the revolver. He being the senior, wifcnees handed it over. They all went upstairs, and the men were there about three hours. There waa some liquor theft-., and the men helped themselves to it.

Mea Asked to Leave.

The men were asked to leave several times, but they took no notice. They finally walked on to the landing at 4.45 a.m. WJratt and McQuarrie went along the corridor, and the other three walked to the door where witness was, and they went on to the landing. Wyatt and McQuarrie came back, and Wyatt asked witness for the second revolver.

Wyatt turned serious, and asked the men to leave. Witness had never seen the men before, and had not invited them along.

To Mr. Cruickshank witness eaid he thought by the jabber of voices that mischief was meant. He got uneasy, and went upstairs for the revolver. As soon as witness asked the. men to leave, Wyatt asked him for the revolver and he handed it over. They tried to get the men to leave on several occasions, but they took no'notice. It waa useless to do anything for they could not force them out. The liquor was put on the table, and the men could help themselves. The men did not go until about ten minutes to 5. They used the story of the nightwatchman coming at the door as an excuse to get them to leave. McQuarrie and Wyatt were doing most of the talking.

Evidence of Detectives.

Detective-Sergeant Thompson rtaid he interviewed McQuarrie on the morning of December 27. He read the statement to the Court, and in it McQuarrie detailed hie movements on the night of December 2fi.

To the magistrate witness said he found the revolver where it was stated to have been thrown. He examined the room at the bank and found empty liquor bottles there.

Detective T. Smith produced statements made independently by Robei. on and Kit son.

This concluded the evidence. The magistrate said it was clearly evident what had happened. The young chaps had gone along thinking there was a party on. The charges against them would be dismissed.

(Proceeding.)