COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18635, 9 March 1926, Page 11

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. (PRESS iBSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, March 3. Frederick George Mayes, charged with attempting to murder Agnes Walker, was committed for trial to the Supreme Court. Walker, aged about 22, said she was a married woman living apart from her husband. For- two months prior to February "2nd she had been living with accused as man and wife. On February 22nd she had visited her mother at Papakura, and returned to her home in Freeman's Bay at 9 p.m. Accused said to her: "I want to speak to you. I know all about Walker (her husband) coming here to-day." Accused refused to believe that she had been visiting her mother. High words followed, and she ran into a lane, followed by Mayes, who caught hold of her. She had a baby in her arms, and, being frightened, called for help. Accused relaxed his hold, and called to a man who lived in the same house to "bring that gun down here." Witness said: "Don't do it; for God's sake use your head." The man (Trainer) brought the rifle Mayes usually kept in his wardrobe, and gave it to accused. Trainer took the from her, and accused,pointed the rifle at her. She ran up a lane, and when she was fourteen yards away she heard the shot, but was not injured. Trainer said in evidence that when ho gave the gun to accused he thought it was empty. He heard Mayes say: "I will shoot you, you— —." Witness snatched the baby from Mrs Walker, saying to accused: "Don't be silly, Fred. Take a pull." Accused pointed the rifle straight at Mrs Walker, who was two yards away, and pulled the trigger. The gun misfired. Witness told her to run. When she was fifteen yards away Mayes fired again, but missed. After this Mayes turned, to witness, who was holding the baby, and said: "Hold him up, and I will shoot him too." The arresting constable * said that Mayes at first denied having the rifle, but later said: "I know, constable, I am a fool. I • fired a shot in the air over my wife's "head." When charged with attempted, murder, accused said: "I'll plead guilty to the lot. I don't want to say anything. It was just my bad temper."