WOMAN SHOT AT

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1926, Page 3

WOMAN SHOT AT

SORDID AUCKLAND STORY. (Per Pres# Association.) AUCKLAND, March 8. Frederick George Mayes was charged in the, Police Court with attempting to murder Agnes Walker, and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court. Walker, aged about 22, said she was married living apart from her husband. For two months prior to February 22, she had been living with accused as man and wife. On February 22, she had visited her mother at Papakura,, and returned to her home in Freeman’s BaV at 9 p.m. Accused said to'her, “I want to speak to you. I know all about Walker (her husband) coming here to-day.” Accused refused to believe that she had been on a visit to her mother, and high words followed.' She ran into a lane followed by Mayes, who caught hold of her. She had a baby in her arms, and, being frightened, called for help. Accused relaxed his hold and called to a man who lived in the same'house, | “Bring that gun down here.” Witness said: “Don’t do it. For God’s sake use your head!” The man (Trainer) brought the rifle which Mayes usually

kept in his wardrobe, and gave it to accused. Trainer took the baby from her, and accused pointed the rifle at her. She ran up the lane, and when she was fourteen yards away, she heard a shot, but was not injured. Trainer said in evidence that when he gave the gun to accused he thought it was empty. He heard Mayes say, “I will shoot you, you !” Witness snatched the baby from Mrs. Walker, saying to accused. “Don’t be silly, Fred. Take a pull!” Accused ' pointed the rifle straight at Mrs. Walker, who was two yards away, and pulled the trigger. The gun misfired. Trainer told her 1 to run. When she was fifteen yards away, Mayes fired again, and missed. After this.

Mayes turned to witness, who was holding the baby, and said, “Hold him up, I will shoot him too.” The arresting Constable said .that Mayes at first denied having the rifle, but later said: “I know, Constable, I am a fool. I fired the shot in the air over my wife’s head.” ' . When charged with attempted murder, accused said, “I’ll plead guilty to the lot. I don’t want to say any- , thing. It was just my bad temper.”