MASTERTON SHOOTING CASE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 298, 10 September 1908, Page 7

MASTERTON SHOOTING CASE.

THE CHARGE AGAINST MILLER. CASE ADJOURNED FOR A WEEK. (BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Mastci'ton, September 9. Tobias Miller stood in tho dock at tho Mastertpn Police Court to-day, charged with shooting at Ernest Hight with intent to kill. Tho Bench was occupied by Messrs. Eli Smith and John Cross, J.P.'s. Accused, who looked vory pale and careworn, was not represented by . counsel. He did not exhibit any very great interest in the proceedings, which lasted a few minutes only. Tho body of the court was densely crowded. , Sergeant Miller, after tho charge had been read by tho clerk .of the Court, stated that tho victim of tho affray was confined to his bed, and asked that prisoner be remanded for a week. « Tho application was granted. The question of granting bail was not raised. Accused was taken to Wellington by tho afternoon train, where he will be kept in custody until he appears again next Wednesday. . Thore is no apparent change in tho condition of, Hight. ; to-day. Ho was in good spirits, aiid appeared to be little the worse for his wound, which gave him no pain. Hight is, of course, being kept in bed, and it is not improbablo that lio will •ho placed under X-ray treatment at the hands of Dr. H. Hosking. Tho circumstances surrounding tho abovo case aro alleged to bo as follows: —About two months ago the victim of the affray went to lodgo at a private boarding-house m Perry Street run by Mrs. Tobias Miller, Mr. Miller's consent being given to Hight bo-, coming a boarder at tho establishment. At about a quarter past 8 oh Tuesday night Miss Sillier was on the point of. leaving the house, and as a precaution, being somewhat nervous about her father, she sent a younger brother'out in advance to ascertain if Miller was outside. The boy on going out saw a man crouched in a corner of tho vacant section adjoining tho house, and uttered a slight scream. Immedately on hearing tho lad's ' cry, Hight and another lodger named Harry Prico ran outside. They walked hastily over to Miller to request him not to conduct himself in a way which would frighten the children, when, without a word of warning, it is alleged, lie fired a weapon at them. Tho two men were on one side of the fenco and Miller was on tho other, but tho range was short, only, a few yards separating tho parties. However, the first bullet went wide, and tho two men scattered and ran to get through a paling fence near by. Hight was in a stooping position, half-way through, when Miller fired a second time, catching him on tho hip. Tho wound was not sufficiently serious to prevent Hight continuing ia his escape, and ho and Price got out of sight and range before Miller could firo although Hight states that he believes he heard tho weapon misfire after he was struck. i The two men rushed into the house and immediately extinguished all tho lights, and allayed tho .alarm of Mrs. Miller and the children, who were thrown into a stato of considerable agitation. Miller, however, decamped without attempting further molestatloTho services of Dr. Ross were immediately requisitioned to attend to Hight, and it was found that tho bullet bad made a small holo high up in tho hip. It is possible that tho bullet encountered a narrow steel belt, which was wearing, and then glanced o(f into the flesh. This theory is supported by the fact that the steel was slightly dented near where the wound was inflicted. Dr. Ross could not locato tho bullet at all, and all that could bo done was to order tho victim to remain quietly in bed until next day. Hight is a mechanic by trade, and is in tho employ of Messrs. Donald and Sons, implement importers. Ho is about thirty years of ago, tall, and of a robust physique. The police wero notified of tho occurrence very shortly after, and Constables .Doylo, Townsend, and Johnson, along with Sergeant Miller went in immediate search of the assailant. Thoy woro assisted by Price. Word was received that Miller was enjoying a quiet game of billiards in the Central Hotel. Thither went the sergeant and Constablo Doyle. They onterod - tho billiard-room quietly, and found Miller with 1 his back to them. Ho was alert, however, : and turned quickly round, but the police had liim secured and disarmed in a' trice. They found on him a small seven-chamber revolver, •loaded in five chambers, and with two empty : cartridges in tho other compartments. Milled is very well known in tho district. He has resided in Masterton for twelve or fourteen years, at one time carrying on an .extensive business in Queen Street as a herbalist.