SHOT IN THE NIGHT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 106, 20 April 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

SHOT IN THE NIGHT.

BURGLAR FOUND DYING IN STREET.

HOUSEHOLDER CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER.

TUST about midnight, (says a late London paper), when Davies-lane, Leytonstone, was apparently deserted, and the people were sleeping, a rifle shot rang out, and a burglar, surprised in an attempt to enter the house where he formerly lodged, darted quickly over a fence, and disappeared in the darkness. The man with the rifle went back to his disturbed slumbers, thinking that he had frightened off the burglar without hitting him. The latter, however, was found later leaning up against some railings in Ferndale-road, in a state of collapse. He had a bullet wound in the lower part of his body. He died soon af cer being taken to West Ham Infirmary, having declined to say anything as to how he came by his injury. Inspector Collins, of the Finger Print Department, New Scotland Yard, on comparing deceased’s finger impressions with the records at the Yard, established his identity as that of a man named Wm. Bedford, alias Robt. Gower, alias John Roberts, who was convicted of burglary at Stratford a year ago. He had lately been “working” the Leyton and Leytonstone districts. Subsequently, 'Wm. Geo. Gibbs, 32, a foreman mechanic of the Great Eastern Railway Company, residing in Davies-lane, Leytonstone, was accused of the manslaughter of Bedford.—De-tective-inspector Haigh said that when he saw accused at his residence Gibbs | was carrying a miniature rifle. Witness i

charged him with causing the man’s death, and Gibbs said :—

Yes. That is right. I am veiy sorry that I should have taken li’s life. I didn’t know it was Gower. I remember him. I have no wish to hide anything. I didn’t think I hit the man, and I will tell you how it happened.

At the station he made the following statement, w'hich he signed:—

I am a member of the Great Eastern Railway Mechanics’ Institute Rifle Club, and I possess, in conjunction with my bro .her, a miniature rifle, which I have had at home a week. On the evening of February 26 I had been to a theatre, and got home just before eleven p.m., and went to bed about half an hour lat<-r. I sleep in the front upstairs room. I had been in bed some time —I don’t know whether I had in fact slept or not —but I heard the gate at the side of the house open and shut; it makes a loud rumbling noise when moved. I became suspicious that someone had gained access to the rear, and I got out of bed and looked out of the front window. I noticed tho gate was shut. Then I got my rifle from the wardrobe. As I looked out of the window I saw a man looking over the gate into the back yard. He stood up on something and looked over the gate twice, and then leaned over and unfastened the gate and passed into the yard. He went straight to the back parlour door, which he appeared to tamper with, and then he went to the kitchen window and appeared to fumble with the catch. I then leant down to pick up my gun, which lay on some planks on the bath, and I loaded it. I poked it out of the window which I had opened. I slipped as I did so, but recovered. One of the planks fell into the bath, making a greatnoise. The man made a half turn at the noise, and then the gun went off. I had my finger on the trigger. The gun has a very light pull, and I did not put any pressure on it. I did not put the weapon to my shoulder to take aim, and I had no intent to hit the man. At once the

man rushed to the gate and climbed over and ran away. I did not think I had hit him. My two brothers-in-law got out of bed and came to me, and I told them what had occurred. We all went back to bed, concluding from the fact that he had run away that he was unhurt. In the morning the next-door neighbours asked if some one had been trying to get into the house, and I told them I had frightened a chap away with my gun. I heard no more of the matter until to-night, when my brother-in-law and Sergeant Hider came to the institute and told me about the death of the deceased. I did not know who the man was who was in my yard, and I had no malice towards him.

—Mr. Sharman (for accused): It is a fact that this man was convicted for breaking into this house. There were three charges against him. He has only been out of prison a very short time. —Jfr. M. Chapman (the chairman): He knew the neighbourhood, evidently.—lnspectflor Haigh: As a matter of fact he was wearing a coat which has been identified as part of the proceeds of another burglary since he came out of prison.—On this evidence a remand was ordered, bail being allowed.