WOMAN FOUND SHOT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 81, 3 October 1938, Page 10

WOMAN FOUND SHOT

CONDITION SERIOUS

YOUNG MAN DETAINED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) NAPIER, This Day. Mrs. Isabella Annie Ayes is lying in the Napier Public Hospital in a critical condition as a result of a rifle wound received at her home in Ferguson Avenue, Westshore, last night. A young man, who gave himself up to the police about midnight, is being held in custody. Three minutes after midnight last night a young man walked into the Napier Police Station and told the officers on duty, Senior-Sergeant W. Pender and Constable E. Harding, that the police were "looking for him." Two minutes later, while the seniorj sergeant and the constable were questioning the man, a telephone message was received from Dr. D. Allan Berry that a woman, suffering from a rifle wound, had been admitted to the hospital in a serious condition. It was stated that the woman was Mrs. Ayes. Inspector D. Cameron was notified, and investigations were immediately commenced. Mrs. Ayes is suffering from a severe body wound, involving the liver and stomach. An operation was performed at 2 o'clock this morning, but fears are entertained for Mrs. Ayes's life. It is understood that the operation failed to reveal the bullet which caused the wound. Mrs. Ayes is 51 years of age, according to a statement made this morning by Inspector Cameron. It is believed that the weapon^ from which the bullet was fired was a smallcalibre rifle. Immediately the police were advised of Mrs. Ayes's admission to hospital, Detective-Sergeant H. Nuttall and Detective K. Mills, Napier, were notified and commenced investigations. Constable R. J. Sutherland, of Port Ahuriri, took control of Mrs. Ayes's residence at Westshore, while Sergeant W. O'Donnell and Constable J. Williamson, Port Ahuriri, Constable D. Walden, Bayview, and Detective-Sergeant L. B. Revell and Detective H. Campin, of Hastings, arrived shortly afterwards to assist in the investigations.

"Further developments are possible during the course of the day," said Inspector Cameron. "In the meantime the young man is remaining at the police station. The injured woman is now in a critical condition."