MAORIS’ DUEL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21065, 9 April 1943, Page 4

MAORIS’ DUEL

SHOTS EXCHANGED DISPUTE OVER WOMAN BOTH MEN CHARGED (I>.A.) WIIANGAREf, April 9. Koni Thompson. aifml -F> ypars, a Mo,oil fiirmor, ami Njfaro ; Moses Ditvis; a soldier wearing hattledress, appoiirod before .Mr. !i. I'Orncr, N.-Mi., yesterday churned with at tempt iii}> to murder each other. Thompson was also charged with the attempted murder of his wife, Mary I'lumipsoii, all the incidents allegedly havnie occurred at Iho coastal sett lemony of Puitumku, 'hi aides north or Whanaarei. Both men had been admitted lo hospital. The evidence of Sydney Thompson, a sou of Koni, showed that I Miv is, who wri-s wounded in Kft.VP. l returned to th(> settientont on. March ill had a lony itryniment with 'Thompson, trying to prevent hint enlistin';.. Tno follow ini' niornino his fat her wanted, to leave the house, but Davis hebl him back. latter, his lather, who was iu a bad mood, <>nt a rifle and went to the rear of the house ami told Ditvis, who warded to talk to him not; to come nearer. Ditvis returned to tho Ifouse. Witness liennl a rifle, shot, the bullet pmufl through the wall, while Davis stood sit the window. Witness then fjave cartridges to Ditvis and he heard alternating rifle and gun shots. Shortly afterwards lie saw his father two chains a wav bleeding at the neck. Ilis father lived twice before Davis opened lire. One Case Dismissed

Thompson, in evidence, said that on returning from it Home Guard parade he found liis. step-nephew, who had served in Greece, Crete, and Egypt in t.lio house and also that his pakcha wife had gone to Russell, where he, located her under the mime of Davis. On her return both she and Davis denied improper association. In the morning he asked Davis to leave, but Davis threw him into a bedroom where he picked up .10 rounds of Home Guard ammunition and decided to give Davis a fright. Ho tired at him without aiming and heard him groaning, but knew he was only pretending and warned him that foe would lie shot it lie. w;is not cutciuJ. Davis dropped out of sight and witness tired at where he had been standing. not intending to hit him. Ifo then saw Davis with a shotgun ana had walked about a chain when foe heard a report and realised that he had been hit, as he was losing a great deal of blood. Both, men dropped their weapons and apologised to one another, both crying. The police deposed that Davis, in tv statement, said he had lived to frighten Thompson, who he believed intended to shoot Liis sou and wife, it was to, protect them that lie tried to frighten Thompson. The case against Davis, was dismissed. That against 'Thompson is proceeding.