WOMAN SHOT IN STREET

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24801, 15 February 1946, Page 4

WOMAN SHOT IN STREET

SERIOUS INJURIES ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE A charge of attempted murder was laid in Christchurcn last night against Francis Noel Harkness, a navsl rating, at present on leave, of 145 Southampton street, after his wife, Joyce Allison Harkness, living at 407 Selwyn street, had been admitted to the Christchurch Public Hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. Early this morning she was on the seriously ill list. The shooting occurred a few minutes after 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon in Southey street, Sydenham, about 50 yards from the Colombo street intersection. Police officers said last night that the woman appeared to have been shot in the back. The weapon used was a revolver, believed to be of German make. Soon after the shot was heard, a person near the scene saw a man running down the street. There was a good deal of traffic in Colombo street at the time, as many people were on their way home to lunch. One of the first to go to the assistance of the woman was Mr W. C. Lew, who lives on the corner of Southey and Colombo streets. Mr Lew immediately called Dr. E. W. Duncan, and soon afterwards the woman was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The accused was apprehended by Constable C. B. Scannell, of the Sydenham Police Station, soon after the shooting. Harkness was riding a bicycle at the time. He was taken to the Christchurch Police Station for interrogation, and later the charge of attempted murder was laid against Harkness will appear in the Magistrate’s Court this morning.