SHOOTING AFFRAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 22 March 1929, Page 3

SHOOTING AFFRAY

ACCUSED TO BE TRIED

ATTEMPTED MURDER ALLEGED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") CHKISTCHUBCH, This Day. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, be. fore Mr. 0. B, Orr-Walker, S.M., Frederick .Uichardson pleaded not guilty to a charge oJ: attempting to murder John Armstrong. lie was committed for trial.

John Armstrong, a labourer, residing at 115, Salisbury street, stated that ho called at -BartloU's place at Green's road, and as Ik result of something BnrtleU told him ho went to the accused.-: house iii a lane off Green's road, and asked what the accused's idea was in telling JJartlett that witness had Jet liis cows out. "So you did," said accused. "1 did no such thing," countered witness, and the accused called him "A liar." "You're tha same!" witness replied, "The accused told me to get oft' the d—— place, or he would shift me," continued witness. "I shut his gate as I left, and walked down the lane holding the hand of Mr. Bartlett's little girl. I was going towards Mr. Bartlett's gate when, turning round, saw the accused in the middle of the lane with a gun up to his shoulder. He fired, and I' got it in the neck and shoulder." The accused was a stranger to him.

Zoe Bartlett, aged 7 years, stated that she saw Bichardson with the gun, and after ho iired it Armstrong went through her parents' gate 'and fell clown near the front door.

Edward Henry Bartlett, a labourer, said that when he heard the report of the gun he went out and saw Armstrong pitch forward on his shoulder.

Detective Laugeson said 'that the accused, when asked whether he was responsible for shooting Armstrong, said:] "Yes, I shot him. I didn't know that; was his name. How is he? "Where did I get him?" Witness replied that, Armstrong was shot in the neck, to which the accused replied: "L must have got dead on to him. Anyway, it will do him good." Jn a statement made to the detective, the accused said that he charged. Armstrong with leaving the gate open on the day previous to the shooting. Armstrong threatened to hit him, so accused went inside for j his gun. The accused left the gun ia the kitchen when he saw that Arm« strong was leaving the place. Armstrong, however, then asked him to "Come out and light." The accused then went for the gun again. Armstrong had been threatening him lately. "When the accused was taken to the police station and tlio charge read over to him," continued the detective, "he said, 'I did not attempt to murder the man.' " In his statement accused added that Armstrong had struck at him over the gate after asking him to come out and fight. The accused then went for the gun. Mr. M'Lachlan, on behalf of the accused, pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. In. asking for bail, Mr. M'Lachlan said that the pellets could not have been meant for killing a man. All the unfriendly neighbours Of the district had left, and no further trouble was likely. The accused wanted bail because he was concerned about his vegetable garden.-Chief-Detective Carroll said that accused was living by himself, and might do himself harm. The Magistrate: "I don't think that; I would be justified in granting bail on the evidence before me." Mr. M'Lachlan (for the accused):] "It is a long .time before the May sitting of the Supreme Court." The Magistrate: "Yes, unfortunately, but bail cannot bo granted."