A SWEETHEART SHOT

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 60, 12 March 1901, Page 3

A SWEETHEART SHOT

FIRED THRICE BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT KISS HIM.

Three shots at Violet Kettridge, Tohn Butcher’s sweetheart, said a medical witness at Thames Police Court n few days ago, had wounded her in as many places. Butcher was accused of shooting the girl, with whom he had quarrelled. He wanted her to arrange for marriage, she told the magistrate, and she consented, with the stipulation that there should be no more quarrels. When,he was leaviug her parents' house at Grafton street he asked her to kiss him and say “ Good night.” She refused, and they exchanged a few petulant words. Then she felt a bullet strike her cheek, and started to run away, but Butcher clutched her jacket and held her while he fired other shots. Eventually she escapedand ran into the house, just as a man came up and seized Butcher, . Soon after a policeman arrived, and while Butcher was disarmed and locked up, the girl was taken to the London Hospital. One of the bullets had split in her arm, and the surgeens have, so far, extracted only one portion of it. Another bullet has been recovered whole, and the third is supposed to have passed right through the woman’s jaw. One of the witnesses called, but not examined, was Mrs Kettridge, an aunt of the wounded girl. She has been deaf and dumb for many years, but is now gradually recovering her speech. Butcher was committed for trial,