CLYDE-QUAY SHOOTING CASE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 91, 14 October 1914, Page 8

CLYDE-QUAY SHOOTING CASE

WILLIAM MULLINS IN COURT ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. "I FELT THAT SOMETHING WOULD 1 HAPPEN." The sensational occurrence at Clydequay on the night of Thursday, 13th August, was revived to-day, when William Amos Mullins was charged before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., with attempting to murder his wife, and with attempted suicide. Accused was represented by Mr. C. V. Gaulter. Mullins appeared to be still suffering from the effects of his injuries, and, apparently, took no interest in the proceedings. Eliza Johnson Mullins, wife of the accused, said that up to the night of 13th August last she resided with her family at 102, Clyde-quay. Her husband was employed at Makara, and on 12th August he came home, with the intention of returning on the night of the 13th. All the time he was home they had no quarrels and no unpleasantness of any sort. Somewhere about 8 o'clock on the evening of the 13th witness was in the dining-room, and accused said, "Are you coming out to s,ee me into the 8.20 car?" She did not go, and so he waited for the 9 o'clock car. He did not seem annoyed ; in fact he was very" nice. "However," said witness, "I felt something was going to happen. During the day he said, without any apparent reason, 'Fancy we are going to part from each other to-day, never to see each other again.' I followed him out into the backyard, and ; without any warning, he shot me. I said, 'Dad, I will go and see if there is anybody who will prevent you from doing W.iy more harm.' I went inside and he followed me, and «hot me a second time. I can't remember much after that. I heard two more shots, and saw my husband lying on the floor." There was no sign of drink on accused. To Mr. Gaulter : She had often noticed signs of queerness about accused. Often he would sit as if asleep, and not speak to anybody. He had been altogether different since arrival in New Zealand, about ten months ago. They never had any very serious differences, and some people might think they were happy enough. But accused did little work, and she had to keep him. Dr. Hardwick Smith, medical superintendent at the Wellington Hospital, described the condition of both husband and wife when they were admitted to the institution. The wounds were the result of bullets which could have been fired from the revolver produced. Both were in a critical condition when admitted. Witness produced X-ray plates to show that the bullets had not yet been extracted. To Mr. Gaulter: Accused appeared to him to. be quite sane. Jean Palliser, a married woman, stated that on the night of the tragedy she was residing in the same house as accused and his wife. It was not within her knowledge that Mr. Mullins had been home since the Wednesday morning. On Thursday just after tea she saw him, and he appeared to be about the same as usual. ' About 9 o'clock she heard Mr. and Mrs. Mullins on the stairs. Next she heard a report and a scream, and Mrs. Mullins came rushing into the room, her face bleeding. The prisoner also came into her Toom, close behind his wife. Mrs. Mullins tried to close the door behind her, but did not succeed. Mr. , Mullins then took aim and fired another shot. Ruby Clough, who lodged with Mrs. Mullins, stated that at 6 p.m. on the 13th she saw accused,, and there appeared to be nothing the matter with him. He was of a quiet disposition, and seemed to be on good terms with his wife. William Mullins, accused's son, said that his parents quarrelled on the afternoon before his mother was shot. He did not know what it was about. Sergeant Taylor said that when arrested accused said "Yes" to each charge. He appeared to be quite rational. Evidence was also given by Nurse Pascoe, Richard Connor, and Constable M'Kelvie. Accused had nothing to say when cautioned. He reserved his defence, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.