A SHOOTING CASE AT FAIRFIELD.

Evening Star, Issue 10187, 14 December 1896, Page 2

A SHOOTING CASE AT FAIRFIELD.

A BOY WOUNDED.

Quite a sensation was created at Fairfield, Green Island, yesterday, when it became known that Constable O'Sullivan, the local officer, had arrested a single man named Louis Parlett for shooting James M'lvor, aged fourteen years. From the facts elicited during the hearing of the case at the Police Court to-day it appears that the l*d weut to Parlett's house and cried out to him: "Hullo, long fellow." Parlett then picked up a gun, and going outside fired, the shot from the gun lodging in the youth's leg. Dr Will attended to the boy, and extracted two pellets. ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. Louis Parlett was charged before Messrs G. L. Dennistou and R. Wilson, justices, at the Police Court this morning, with shooting at James M'lvor with a gun with intent to kill and murder him. Mr A. C. Haulon defended. Sergeant O'Neill, aft<:r briefly stating the facts, called Harry Bavin, who, on being sworn, said that he was a slaughterman living at Fairfield. He knew accused, who resided in the same district. Witness was in his house at about two o'clock yesterday afternoon. They were sitting down, when James M'lvor came to the window and called out something which witness did not hear. Parlett told him to go away, and immediately went into his bedroom. He then left the house, and witness shortly afterwards heard a shot. Accused came inside a minute or two afterwards, when he (witness) noticed a gun in his hand. He asked him if he had fired a shot, and he replied " Yes." Witness said " You were very foolish," aud aecußed muttered something iu reply. Ahout three minutes later witness noticed M'lvor walking along the road in the direction of his home. The single-barrelled gun pr< duced was the one used by accused. John and James Ramsay were also in the house at the time. To Mr Hanlon : He had known accused for about nine months. He lived next door to him. They were all sitting chatting when the boy came to the window. The house faced the roadway, and was about five yards from the road. There was a picket fence in front. The lad came through the gate, and walked up the pathway. M'lvor was with some other boys on the roadway, but they left him and went in a different direction. It was a three-roomed house. He could not say whether the front door was shut or not. He could not hear what the boy said. Accused told the boy to shut up and clear out. M'lvor c.vlled out to him again. Accused then went into the room and said something about shooting. He passed through the room in which witness and the other men were sitting, and although he said something about shooting witness did not take much notice. He did not see the gun until he returned. They did not run outside after hearing the shot. Accused came in almost immediately and put the gun away. Anderson and Ramsay were in the room all the time .aud heard what was going on. Witness mounted his horse, and left the place a few minutes afterwards for the purpose of visiting his parents. There were a number of boys about the place, aud sometimes they came to the window and called out.

James Ramsay, a laborer, gave similar evidence. He did not hear what M'lvor said. Accused jumped off his seat, and, taking a gun from his bedroom, walked outside. A report from a gun immediately followed. Accused then returned to the house and put the gun away, and in answer to Bevan he said : "lam not going to have them coming round my window." Mr Hanlon : After you heard the shot did you not think it worth while to go outside to see what was the matter ?

Witness: We did not hear any screaming. Hr Hanlon : You just sat there, and be cause you heard no scream you did not trouble to go outside 1 Witness : No.

To save time the evidence of the previous witnesses was read over to John Anderson, who said that it was correct. Iu answer to Mr Hanlon, witness said that he did not hear what the boy said when he came to the window.

James M'lvor, aged fourteen years, who though slightly lame was able to walk to the witness box without assistance, said that he stood by accused's fence, which was close to the window, and called out: "Hullo, long fellow." Accused, who was neat the window, could have heard what he said. Parlett Baid : "I'll put a bullet or a shot into you." Witness then ran away. He saw him come out with a gun in his hand. He said : " I'll fire," aud witness was instantly struck in the leg. Accused then went inside with the gun in his hand. Witness then made for his home, a distance of about 200 yds. His leg was very sore. He was attended to by I)r Will, who extracted two pellets from his leg. There were also several marks on the other leg. To Mr Huulon : He had knGwn accused for about a year. He had gone to his place and called out to him before. It was not arranged with other boys that he should go to his place yesterday and call out. He had frequently gone to his window and cried out "Long fellow." He always called him that. Ho had no motive for doing so. He could not say why he went to his window and called out. He never meant to annoy him.

Mr Hanlon: You are not particular abo,ut your language. Don't you go to his window and swear at him-? ~ Witness: Sometimes I do. He swears at me and I swear back at him.

Mr Hanlon : Don't you annoy other men there by swearing at them ? Witness: I have sworn at young Bavin and other slaughtermen. Further cross-examined, witness said that his .father was dead and he lived with his mother. He sometimes worked, but did not go to school. He had another brother He did not call out twice to accused, wlio told him to shut up or else he would put a shot or bullet through him. He then cleared out. He was about two yards away when he fired at him. Witness stood because he did not think that Parlett was in earnest.

To the Bench: He saw him put the gun to his shoulder id the usual way.

■P.r Will, residing at Abbotaford, said that he attended to the boy at his mother's .house at about .three o'clock yesterday afternoon. He found him lying ou the sofa with several shot marks on his'legs. There were three pellets in the right foot, four in the right leg, three bruises where the Bhot had penetrated the right ,leg, and three bruiseß in the neighborhood of the left knee. He removed one from the toe and one from the shin bone. The others were too deep to get at. He thought the numbers of the shot were three and four.

To the Bench : A single shot penetrating the brain might cause death. To Sergeant O'Neill: If they had entered the stomach they might have proved fatal. No serious consequences were likely to result from the injuries. Constable O'Sullivan Baid that he arreßted accused in his house. He told him the charge, whereupon accused said.: " The boy came to my window and called out. I told him to clear out. I then went out with my gun and fired with the intention of frighten, ing him. ; I did not intend to hit him. This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr Hanlon said that no doubt the prosecution had made out a case. The boy had been injured by a gun discharged by accused, but it Was ridiculous to talk about intent to murder. Although there was no case of murder, it was for the Drown Prosecutor to prepare the counts of the indictment. Accused would reserve his defence, and he (Mr Hanlon) would ask the Bench to make the bail as light as possible. The man had only been about two years in the colony, aud he (counsel) was told by the constable in the district tint he bore a good character. He had been working for two farmers in the district ever since he arrived here, and wasa quiet, sober man. What he said to the constable was about the truth of the matter. He went out to frighten the boy, not intending to injure him. He (counsel) subemitted that that should be taken into consideration m .fixing the bail. Accused was then committed for trial, bail being allowed, himself ]in £§o, and two sureties of £25 each,

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