MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 685, 9 December 1909, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

•:.■■'•;: /(Before Mr.;Wv G.Riddoll,■ S.-M.j, •'. ','. •■ALLEGED ; ATTpPTEO MURDER; v : THE: GHUZNEE STREET SHOOTING. /.■:;<: ■■.■•:.•':>'■'/ AFFAIR;""' ■A charge preferred against an elderly man named Joseph Williams in connection with the trriuzneo.btrcot shooting affray of December 1 was.the principal business before the Magistrates Court yesterday morning.. Williams was charged; with attempting to murder 1 ono Francis Joseph Martin, his son-in-law." Sub-Inspec-tor Norwood conducted the prosecution, and Mr.-Wilford appeared for tho defence: i, Dr - Henry/said, that ho examined-Martin on the night of December 1, and'found a slight wound on -Martin was in naval uniform .at'tho timo, <and tho bullet fell to tho ground when his coat was removed. .Francis Joseph Martin.was next called, and he described the occurrences on.the evening of December 1. At about 7.15 p.m.:hohnd left his homo in Ghuzneo Street, and was walking along with a man riamed Alexander Walls, when they met accused, who asked witness to go along the street with him as ho had something to say-to hini. They: walked along in front.of Walls for a little while, iand'then.accused said: "Why didn't you go up and face my daughter at tho Home?"."l.thought," continned witness, "that accused was referring to his younger daughter, my wife's sister." ■' Mr.; Wilford:' "Will you ask what the daughter's, ago.is, sub-inspector?" '.-■' «', Sub-Inspector Norwood: Yes, I am going'to. 'Witness, replied that the daughter was, . he thought, about U years.of ago. "I told him," witness went on, "that I .bad been advised by my solicitor, Mr. Meredith, not .to go up to the Home, as it would do no good. Then I said, that I would face his daughter in -the proper. place, the court; Ho replied, .'You'll ncyer seo the cOurt. I'll hang for you first.' I asked him what• he :ineant, and he 6aid, 'I'll sooii show you.' - Then he. drew something out of lis pocket and I saw -the gleam of a' revolver. I ducked as if to. avoid a blow, and the: flash : of .the discharge: wont close by my ear..- At, the.same, timo-1 felt.a stinging sonnation in-the ..shoulder." /Witness had called Walls up before.this, and the latter now came and closed -with accused,. at ■ the same time calling, but, "Run, Frank, or he'll get another one. into. you.". ..Witness then .ran down / towards Cuba Street, where he met a constable and, sergeant of police..: . .-'.; •. ;': / Alexander, Walls 'then .gave 'evidence, mainly corroborative of; Marthas statements.. He was called up.by Martin, ho said, to hear some allegations accused was, making of improper conduct on, the : part of Martin.' When ■Williams fired.at Martin-witness, closed with him, telling, him not-to be, silly./. '■/:'■';'/.':'-.' '■■'■'■'■'■ - .''■ Constablo. QuayleV who arrested accused, said, thatJ.hevand Constable ;CummingSj who ..were on.duty-.in. Cuba; Street, :Were:informed of tho occurrence.by, Walls,.'who.Conducted theni' to Ghuznee Street. There they met.accused who;, at Constablo Cummings's request, handed over the. revolver and .said that he would .go ; with 'them quietly. VAs they were proceeding; to. the polico. station accused -.said:''-1 ..shot him, :and the.-, only, thing. I'm -sorry for is that I didn't shoot.hini'dcad. 'The. scoundrel!" When they had reached, the /stations accused broko , down, and-\crying said: "My life-is no good : for. : mo now.'; Ho-has ruined my'daughter who is only. ,13. years old." Ho thon ; told his story: of how ho had ' bp.en -down to. the detective office tive to his daushte'r, but, had 'been informed that there' : was ; no: case; as' no corroborative evidence-was,;available. •. ."I;.then.' took■'. tho law. into 'my. own, hands," ho .concluded; . • ••. Constablfi ■;Cummjngs ~ endorsed: ■ the" evidonce of tho; '. ,'; Mr'.Wilfprd said, ho did not intend: to call any:evidence at this' stago, but ho would give a slight intimation of-what'the nature of the defence wonhLbe. ."I am;sure,"-he' said,-'"that the.,defence;.will,',in ; this-caso,:^^completely 'exonerate -tho'accused and ; wi!l- bring .about his acquittal.;: If;any-;man has. been more sinned against than :sinnini; ,it is: he. I,shall' re-cei-yq my defence.until' the actual:trial." ; Accused, was then committed - to tho'' Supremo: ;Court for, trial.'.'.Bail was fallowed in-the sum of JESOO,': and: a'■ similar -.surety.:,Mr'.: Wilford stating that.accusediwould.'leave-'.for,Auckland that; day;,, :'i ( ''.■)'.'■;■■'.'■■ "■' :;',;■': ■' v ":-. , ; ;'; -.'::-5' '-■;;;yAGRANCY' 'CHARGES. '/• / ;■[,.'■■/ -.;; Thirteen;, previous, convictions,, all ", for' vag-' rancy, :hecn ':.recorde3 -against.; Harry \ Grand, who pleaded guilty' to being a rogue arid a .vagabJn'd.'in'.that'.'Ho. had'-'-irisufScient-'lawful.' means,of support and.;.had;beeri once previously : cohvictea.bf' aii-,id7o ! ,'Sfid-:'disorderly per-,, son. .;.He-;vfas ,'ssntenccd ,'to,'sis- months' vim-, pr'isonment'r.';.V >'--'.>;,:- ' r ':. : :; ;■' •• y. ■ 'A 'scnlonce of. three .months' imprisonment was-imposed;on, Robcrtr'Greon, who pleaded guilty:.- to being':, an idlo'and disorderly .per-: son, ,iu" that lie had 'insufficient 'lawful means ■■■•■':,'■'■■;•'.'.; ; 7.:>:: ',:''.,..:'-A'--. >:/ I^TEMPIER ; :AND;TEMP.TED. '■• ]; \f v.Frank.Reid, .aged;2s years, .'and. a lad almost' 17 years of ago, pleaded guilty:to'four charges of-petty;thi>ft at Island: Bay and Wellington on November 30 ; ; Reid also .admitted another chargo of stealing_'a. pair of boots,-value' 10s., tho property : of Fanny ;Whittal:er.. '.'.;. '.Sub : lnspector. Norwood said .'that, Reid. was .25 years.of ■'age,,.and'.had;been;previously;.coiiyicted;":Tho;boy,'however, was the son of respectablo • parents," and : ,up 'to this "■ time had comniitted.:;no. l oi!'cnce.'','He ; liad left college not.long ago,: ahd.gone. to'work; :but had 'left his employment and-gone to stay at the Trocai doroj'where hoiliad met Reid.. 'The latter'had apparently: .influenced,- the younger'; defendant, who, appearedv,to' bo: easily led, and they .j had: committed: the offences' stated in the information,,; ''■;-.'' \'A': '.■':■■■.'-:'-■'> •.'-.■■ :.'■':

;■ "Mr,-. Meredith, \ph-. behalf, of, tho boy, .asked that a. conviction and'order; to ;como lipfor ;sentence. when-.called on be entered. • >The : boy had'been:influenced' all along b? Eeid, who had. induced, him. to sell his clothes, and ; aid ™^~' ln i tne ' :thelts ':' x His- father : wos-.noir in ■Wellington, ; nnd if leniency .were extended would-.tako his;soh home.with him. ~ ■ ■••.• '■' HiS;,' Worship agreed -,to, : this .course"-.beim? taken.N.and,:..after:.warning, the lad against ■allowing himself to;be led into evil'■;ways,' ordered him: to .come up'for sentence when; called !^r^'r Calln s t, lth Ke 'd. 'his Worship regardod the -four...thefts committed on November yO as-.one:offence, and' imposed; (^sentence-of ■three months-..liardJabonr.'" On,;the other charge,,, a :sentence v of; one.!'month's \'imprisonment was imposed, forms to bo .concurrent. -'.": ; v ;.v. ; ; i, : ; ,' "MlscEii&^EOus;;;; ; ;:,:■; ; > ■■;•':' :'.A -young,,man,;named William Golding Bees, charged,with;, failing ; to, provide for the maintenanco. of his illegitimate ohild, was remanded to appear at Nelson' on Decomber 8. "Bail was allowed in. and one; saroty of'wESO. '■ v Mary, Hartnoll-was- brought forward for sentence on a charge of importuning. Mr. P W m, ?? k / 0 \ st £ ted at he ilad communicated with defendant's sister •at • Christchurch, and ■At s J 6t '!:' w ?r s . q Vi tß '-'WUing 'to take care'of defendant. His; Worship coWcted defendant and ordered her to come up for sentence when