EX-NAVAL OFFICER SHOT

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1946, Page 5

EX-NAVAL OFFICER SHOT

THE SYDNEY CASE His Account of the Affray (Rec. 10.15.) SYDNEY, Oct. 15. Giving evidence to-day in the case in which David Stewart Dawson, company director, aged twenty iour, is charged with maliciously wounding him, George Rankin Mackay, who is on the Reserve of Officers of the Royal Navy, said that, with others, he attended a party at Stewart Dawson’s residence at Falm Beach. They played the radio and a gramophone, and they talked and had drinks. At eleven p.m., when the radio played the National Anthem, David Stewart Dawson turned it off, and, in a sneering voice, said: “To hell with the King!” Witness lost his temper, and pushed the defendant from the radio. In a scuffle, two glasses of liquoi’ were spilt. He and a companion then left, and went to their car, but, following something that was said, he returned to the porch. Stewart Dawson senior appeared, brandishing an empey gin bottle, and he was followed by his son. Stewart Dawson ’ senior ad ■ dressed him insultingly, waving the bottle ovex’ his head, and ordering him off his property. Witness did not have a bottle at any time. He heard ehots, and he felt a shock in his stomach. He did not see the defendant with the pistol, as he was looking at Stewart Dawson seniox’ at the time. He tried to get up, but he fell again, and Stewart Dawson senior kicked him in the face and chin, and tried to kick him in the groin. Witness’s thigh was bruised foi’ about a fortnight afterwards. He spent a fortnight, in hospital, and he had ap operation, but the bullet had not yet been removed.

C'ros's-examined by Mr. Shand, K.C. (for the defence), witness denied that he was uncontrollably drunk at the time of the incident. It would be blackmail if a person was asked to give a false account of such an occurence with the idea of extorting money from the other person concerned. He did not know that a Woman, with whom he attended the party, afterwards went to the-'defen-dant. On the night of the occurence, he had mentioned damages up to twenty thousand pounds, but he did not say that he would twist his evidence if the money was not paid. He denied an allegation that he had conspired with othei' people to extort money. He went back to the porch to demand an apology.