A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. MAN FOUND SHOT IN CRANMER SQUARE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13227, 22 September 1908, Page 7

A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.

MAN FOUND SHOT IN CRANMER SQUARE.

A mysterious shooting affray took placo in the north-castorn portion of Cranmer square, between eleven o'clock and midnight last night, as tho result of wliich a young man named Charles Bryenton, aged twenty years, was conveyed to the Hospital in a critical condition.

It- appears that about midnight, as Mr F. A. Hornibrook and Mr Norman Baggs were cycling to their homes in the vicinity of the- north-western portion of tho square, thoy heard crdtss. for a light. Mr Baggs was the first to arrive at the place where Bryenton was lying. Tnis was a seat behind a tree, situated in front of -a block of buildings at the corner of Grannies- square aud Chester street. When Mr Baggs arrived on tlie scene, Bryenton- coat wa<s on fire, and Ids first action was to put the Haines out. Mr Hornibicok, wh'/n ho came up and .—curtained-what the trouble was, at onco cycled to tho Police Station _-± _;;;y_ the information of the affair. Sergeant Keep immediately went to the scene of the occurrence," and obtained irom Bryenton an account of what had happened to him. Bryenton stated that ho had eomo to the square to keep an appointment. Soon after ho reached the spot a man, wearing a pair of blue goggles, appeared from behind the tree antl asked him what he was doing there. Bryenton replied that ho had eomo to keep an appointment. Tho man then asked him if tho appointment was with a young man or a young woman, ana was told that it was with a young man. Bryenton alleged that the stranger thereupon said that he was the man. and drawing a five-chambered revolver shot Bryenton in tho region of the heart. Tho revolver was picked up about ten yards from where Bryenton was found. On being examined later it was found that there had been three miss-fires, that one bullet had been fired, and that thero was one good cartridge in tho revolver. A bunch of cartridges were picked up on the seat where bryenton was found, and the goggles wero also discovered close by. In the ; meantime Mr Hornibrook, at the request of the police,, had *got a cab and'-gone to fetch Dr. William Irving, who did what he could for the injured man in the circum&tances. Tho St. John Ambulance aAssociation's horse ambulance was shortly afterwards in attendance, and tho wounded man was placed on a stretcher and conveyed in the ambulance to the Hospital. Persons in the houses near the scone of the affair were awakened by cries, but at first did not connect them with a matter of such seriousness. Mr E. j Nordon and Mr Frank Buttle, who reside at No, 26 Cranmer square, wero amongst those who were "'early on the scene. Mr Buttlo passed in front of the spot where the alleged crime was committed about half-past ten o'clock and saw no one about. Ho retired about eleven o'clock and some time afterwards heard cries from the square, but did not attach much importance to them. When he found out what had occurred he telephoned to the police. From the meagre details that were available early this morning, it appears that Bryenton was a cook by occupation, but was out of work. He resided at 144 Peterborough street. Ho was | for some time employed as cook at the Police Station in this city, a job.that! he left about three "months ago. In [April last ho was employed as cook at a telegraph linesmen s camp at -_alswell. ■

On the man's arrival at tho hospital TJr. Crooke examined Bryenton and found that the bullet entered his body about an inch below the heart; and in its course touched the left lung. Ho had been-in bad health for some time past, and was too weak to undergo an operation. His mother states that he left town on Thursday to go to a situation in Lyttelton. and she heard no more about him till she was informed by the _tol.ce that he had been shot.

At 3 o'clock this morning Dr.Crooke did not have much hope of his recdvery.