GIRL WOUNDED

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 11

GIRL WOUNDED

Shot in Early Morning A REJECTED LOVER Attempted Murder Charge NUNN BEFORE COURT By Telegraph—press Association. Hastings, April 30. On a charge of attempting to murder Mavis Steele Smith, 23 years of age. at Havelock North, on April 7, Hubert Frederick Nunn, 43, appeared at the Hastings Court today before Mr. A. R. Mowlem, S.M. Inspector Cummings conducted the case for the police, and Mr. E. J.. Hallett appeared for the accused. Miss Smith appeared lu Court with her head heavily bandaged, and showing signs of much emotion. The Court was crowded. Miss Smith, who gave her evidence seated, said she was single, and had known the accused for two years. She was not sure whether Nunn said his wife had gone or he had lost her. He told her he had one daughter at college. He asked witness to marry him, but she gave uo definite reply. He said he would get a divorce. They decided later to remain friends.

Ultimately she told the accused that they should not see each other, and she did not see him for a long time. At the next meeting he referred to witness keeping company with another man, and said: “Nobody else will get you.” He repeated the remark several times, and added that he would do away with himself. Refusal to blurry. After a wedding on Easter Monday, witness said, ,she returned home, and later left for a party. She saw Numfs car in a neighbouring road. Later it passed the car she was in. About 1 o’clock next morning witness returned home with a carload of friends. . The ear drove away, and witness heard Nunn’s voice as she approached the house. It was moonlight, and Miss Smith said she noticed that Nunn had a gun concealed behind him. He asked witness to marry him, and she said “No.” Nunn said: “I’ll shoot you, then.” She was unable to remember her reply. Nunn asked her to come into the car for a talk, but she replied that it was no good talking over it. Witness moved away, and dodged behind a tree. The accused chased her round it with the gun in his baud, and raised it. Witness called for her father, and ran toward the house. She heard a loud click and a report, and remembered nothing more till she found herself lying on the lawn. To Mr. Ilnllet. witness said she knew the accused was exceedingly fond of her. He was always kind and considerate, and she never suspected that he would wilfully harm her. Reginald Eves gave evidence that he and others called for Miss Smith to go to a party on the night of the offence. He saw Nunn’s car on a neighbouring road. Parents Object. Alfred Thomas Smith, father of the girl, stated that he was not at first aware of the acquaintance between his daughter and Nunn, but later Nunn asked witness for leave to pay attention to his daughter. He said he intended getting a divorce, but witness and his wife objected. Nunn appeared terribly upset. Witness knew that Nunn later brought his daughter home several times. He had warned Nunn several times, and had forbidden him to speak to her. Once Nunn said: “I can’t live without her.” On the night of the alleged offence he heard his daughter screaming, “Dad, dad 1” He ran out, followed by his son-in-law. and heard a shot fired from the front of the house. He found her lying bleeding on the grass, but saw nobody in the grounds. Fired at Close Range. Montague Harry Tisdall, gun expert, Auckland, described the weapon produced as a twelve bore hammer gun which he examined on April 9. The right barrel had recently been discharged and the inside of the left barrel was coated with dust. From experiments made he asserted that the shot was fired directly at Miss Smith from a range of thirteen yards. At twenty-seven yards the spread of the shot was almost identical "with that on the house. Two witnesses gave evidence as to having seen accused walking up and down in the vicinity of Mr. Smith’s house on Easter Monday evening, while his car was close at hand. Dr. H. M. Wilson described Miss Smith’s wounds on the neck and back. She was now progressing satisfactorily, but was complaining of double vision. Witness saw accused soon after his arrest, and he appeared somewhat dazed. He stood up to walk, but could not or would not use his limbs. Accused spoke rationally. The hearing was adjourned to Saturday morning. Bail was refused.