SHOOTING AFFRAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1929, Page 5

SHOOTING AFFRAY

THREATS AGAINST WITNESS. SYDNEY, November 22. At the Central Police Court yesterday, Walter Joseph Naughton, 35, was charged with having feloniously wounded Geo. Williams at Kensington on October 23, with intent to murder him. Mr Sproule (instructed by Messrs •R. D. Meagher, Sproule and Co.) appeared for the defendant. Detective-Sergeant James said that when informed that it was alleged that he had shot a man near the leger entrance at Kensington racecourse, and that he (witness) had information that there had been a feud for a previous fortnight between defendant and a certain man, Naughton replied, “I was there. I did no shooting, but I saw all that took place.” Witness said to defendant: “As you say you know who did the shooting, have you any objection to telling me who did it?” Defendant said, “Iskiviski.” Asked what the man’s Christian name was, defendant said, “You know him. That’s for you to find out.” Defendant, when asked by witness whether he had used certain words just after the shooting, replied: “Yes, I called the man a bhidger. 1-Jave they told you about Micky McDonald and this fellow who was tshot, going down to my home and threatening to slice up my wife with a razor?” Witness said “No.”

Frank Scott, an officer of the Salvation Army, said that on October 23 he was at the Kensington racecourse. He heard a shot, and when he looked up ho saw Naughton place a revolver into his hip pocket. Then he turned round and said: “You for holding up bookmakers and bookmakers’ clerks for money.” Then defendant walked away quickly. On the evening ’of the 13th inst. Naughton came to the Manly Hall, where witness was on duty, and asked witness to sign a statement to the effect that he did not know defendant, and that he had made a mistake. Defendant said: “You”ll see all about it after Thursday. If you give evidence then you’ll be fiddled yrith bullets.”

Geo. Williams said that on October 23, when he was walking up to the ticket window at the Kensington racecourse, he felt a stinging pain in his left breast. He saw a man with a

revolver just before he was shot. Witness knew defendant by sight, through having seen him at the races for the past three years. Defendant was not the man who had the revolver in his hand just before witness was shot. Witness had no altercation with anyone. To Mr Sproule: I am absolutely certain defendant is not the mah who shot me. Mr McMahon, S.M.: Have you ever been threatened by defendant? Witness: No. Mr McMahon: Were you conscious after the shooting? Witness: Yes, all the time, though I felt sick at the hospital afterwards. The man who shot me was a tall man. I told the police I could identify him, but as I was very sick I did not describe the man to the police. The hearing was adjourned.