Attempted Murder Charge

Grey River Argus, 5 February 1941, Page 10

Attempted Murder Charge

THE OAMARU CASE. DUNEDIN, February 4. At the Supreme Court to-day, the Grand Jury returned a true bill on the attempted murder charge against William Meehan of Oamaru. Judge Kennedy in his charge to the Grand J'ury said, the charge arose out of a set of circumstances at Oamaru, when a group of people calling themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses’’ gathered at a' meeting, at which a man appeared with a loaded rifle and bayonet fixed. “You may judge the man’s state of mind by what he says and what he does. A peaceful meeting is no place to take a leaded rifle,” said the Judge. Accused was defended by Mr C. S. Thomas (Christchurch), and Mr Farrell (Oamaru). The major charges were attempted murder of George Robert Edwards and Frederick Henry McAuley, and committing bodily harm with a rifle. Mr Adams, for the Crown, said the offences were alleged to, have occurred on October 13, while a meeting of “Jehovah’s Witnesses’’ was in progress. A man came up to the ushers, and the bullet which wounded McAuley passed through Edward’s coat. The former suffered such injuries as to reduce him to a cripple minus one leg. Dr. Butler, the first witness, after detailing the injuries, said he saw accused at the police station. Telling him McAuley wa's seriously injured, accused expressed surprise, stating he had not intended that. Accused’s eyes were red, but witness could not form an opinion if he was drunk. LATER. Alter ten witnesses had been heard, the case was adjourned till to-morrow morning. j