CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11102, 22 October 1901, Page 3

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

II _— J,, I (PRESS ASSOCIATION TIXEGBAM.) '" DUNEDIN, October.2l. I The preliminary hearing of the charge ' against Mary Pearce,- that she did attempt tO;, murder one Jane Ben wick by shooting her with • a revolver, was commenced at the Police Court to-day. The case for the prosecution was that on October 12th Mrs Gray was visiting her daughter, Mrs Ranwick, having occasion to pass the accused's house. She mistook the door and knocked at Mrs Pearce's door. The accused opened the door and threw a billy of scalding water over Mrs Gray. Mrs Renwick he_rd <her mother call out, ,and went to her assistance. She enquirea from Mrs Pearce why she .had treated her mother in that way, and Mrs Pearce replied by seising' Mrs Renwick by the hair, knocked her down, and assaulted her. The- accused afterwards went to a mantelpiece, took down a revolver, and, placing it close to Mrs Renwick'a face, fired .a shot at her. Trie bullet entered her mouth, made a wound in the chees, and emerged near the angle of the right jaw. Evidence to that effect was given by Mrs Renwick. The. evidence of Lionel Pearce, sixteen years of age, was to tha effect, _icrwever» that Mrs Gray forced her way in; that Mrs Renwick on. arrival caught his mother by- the collar. The latter then caught Mrs Renwick by the hair. After his mother let Mrs Renwick go tie latter caught h» mother.by the 'hair and throat, and forced her against a mantelpiece. She-struck his mother a heavy blow, knocking her against the wall. Heathen heard a 'soot, and saw a revolver in his mother's hand. The case is not concluded.