SHOT IN THE DARK

Evening Star, Issue 19326, 12 August 1926, Page 7

SHOT IN THE DARK

YOUTH WOUNDED IN CHEST WEAPON DISCHARGED AT CLOSE QUARTERS A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. [Pbb United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 11. An extra-ordinary affair occurred at the soldiers’ settlement at Puni, some five miles from Pukekohe. at about 1 o’clock this morning, Mervyn Hoe, eighteen years of age, being shot in tho dark by an unknown assailant. The bullet penetrated his body fairly high up on the- left side of the chesty and caused a serious wound. Tho victim resides with a married brother, Joseph Hoe, one of tho soldier settlers, and is a pupil of the Pukekohe Technical Hi oh School. He attended school yesterday, and after tea was engaged in home work until after midnight. He then went out for a short walk before retiring. When about 109yds from the house he suddenly noticed the outline of a man, and felt something pressed against his chest, followed by a concussion. He reeled and staggered back to the house, where he informed his brother. Dr Begg was summoned, and later the Pukekohe police. The doctor’s examination showed that the bullet must have passed within a fraction of an inch of tho heart. The patient was sfiffering from shock and loss of blood. It was not possible to move him to-day, but probably he will be taken to the Auckland Hospital tomorrow for an X-rny examination to locate tho bullet Constables B. Millar and B- 0 Donnell searched the immediate vicinity on arrival shortly after daybreak, giving particular attention to a piece of bush in a gully about 290yda from tho scene of tho shooting. However, no trace of the assailant was found, and tho victim and his brother are nnnhle to give any indication as to possible identity or why he fired the shot.

The house stands in a paddock about 200yds from the road, and within a quarter of a mile radius are four other homesteads, there being in all twelve homesteads in the settlement. There are no trees round Mr Hoe’s house. Young Hoe came from Reweti, Hclonsvillo, some weeks ago. He was again visited by the doctor this afternoon, and it is not expected his wound will prove fatal. Sergeant Cowan and Constable Millar were stifl engaged in searching the locality at 5 o’clock to-night.