SHOT IN THE BACK

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 56, 9 March 1929, Page 18

SHOT IN THE BACK

PAPANUI AFFAIR

ATTEMPTED MUIiDEU OHAKGE

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evoninu Post ")

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

In connection with tho arrest of Frederick .Richardson, of Papanui, on a charge of attempting to murder John Armstrong, it is alleged that Armstrong visited Bichardson'a home about S.3U o'clock yesterday.morning and had ou-,casioiij.-,^vv;9peak/..--.t.0.-,':Kiji;Uardsau..-...::Aii;; argument ended in a shotgun being fired and Armstrong was hit in the back and neck. A neighbour, who was attracted by the shot, immediately telephoned the police, and detectives and constables rushed to the scene by car. Kichardson made no attempt to escape, and was arestcd and taken to the Central Police Station.

Armstrong was removed to the Christchurch Hospital. His condition is quite satisfactory. It was stated that he was able to walk into the hospital.

It appears that, Mrs. Bartlett, who lives nexj'" door to had been staying with Mis. Armstrong, in Salisbury street, and returned home on Wednesday. „0n Thursday, Armstrong called, and 'on being told that Sirs. Bartlett .had left her sewing machine behind, he promised to deliver it, which he did yesterday morning. When leaving, Mr. Bartlett mentioned that the gate loading from the road to the right-of-way, which leads-fo the houses about two chains back, had been left open the previous day, anttVtJfiljfr'.' Richardson blamed Armstrpijg for'ifi; "I always shut it,", s said : :iA.nnstroiig;i "I will go in and'-tellj;him;that I didn't."

'.'" He -crossed the.\fightrof.7way to RicKardson's,:\and was at biicc challenged. :,"Get off-Vmy property : .,pr'.l, will shift you off," is what Richardson is alleged to have said. Armstrong at once left and was walking across tho right-of-way when a shot was n'red. Armstrong had paid no serious attention to Richardson's words, and walked leisurely across the right-of-way, leading by the hand Mr. Bartlett's tiny daughter of about two years. He had almost reached Mr. Bartlett's gate, about 30. feet way, when the shot was fired. Pellets entered Armstrong's shoulder and neck, one narrowly missing 'the jugular vein in the neck. '

Mr. Armstrong staggered through .the gate and collapsed on the garden side. He then got up again and staggered into the house, and again collapsed in the front bedroom. Armstrong was given what attention was possible, and the police and medical.aid wcie at once .summoned. Armstrong had lecovered to a great extent from the shock when he left for the hospital. •Both houses at the scene of the shooting are iv a secluded aiea. A sign-post stands in a conspicuous place at the front of Richardson 'a property bearing the notice: "I am .not lesponsible. for, the condition", of the iight-of-way. I h^ve always'done tny bit.—E, Rich'ardsohJ' < ■ Richardson appealed veiy noivous when he stood in the dock at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, when a charge of attempted murder was preferred against him. He was remanded until loth Mai eh.