"A PECULIAR CASE."

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16550, 14 May 1914, Page 9

"A PECULIAR CASE."

REVOLVER INCIDENT AT BELFAST.

A WEAPON THAT WOULD NOT

GO OFF,

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., Michael Colbert, on remand, was charged that on the night of May 5, at Belfast, ho wilfully broke a window valued at 7s 6d, the property of George William Green, and, further that ho pointed a revolver at Green with intent to do bim actual bodily.;,harm. Accused was defended by Mr M. Donnelly, and Senior-Sergeant Mathiesoji conducted the case for the police. George William Green, labourer, residing in Donegal Street, Belfast, said that Mrs Colbert called at his house on the night of May 5, and was accommodated there. On the following day. May 6, accused came to the house and said: "1 want my wife." Witness said: "Come inside, Mick." Ho'came in, and witness said: "Go home, and your wife will go homo in the morning." Accused said: "Where my wife is, I'll stop." Ho went out and sat on a form inside the door. Witness told

him he could not stay there, as they ! wanted no more trouble,, and ho pushed him outside. They die? not hear anything more until about 10.30 the same night, when there was a sound of a window breaking. Witness rushed outside and pushed accused down. He may have struck him. Accused called to his wife to come out. She did so, and advised him to go home. Accused sprang up, put his band inside his coat pocket and drew out a revolver, saying: "One for you, one .for my wife and three for somebody else." Witness and Mrs Colbert graswd accused, and witness secured the revolver, which he did not examine, so ho could not say whether it was loaded. 1 To Mr Donnelly: Witness could not swear whether, the revolver lell out of accused's pocket or whether accused withdrew it. Accused could easily have j discharged the revolver had ho been j so minded. . , J Senior-Sergeant Mathieson produced the revolver, and witness showed how j accused displayed it. Witness got on the verge of tears, and cried: "Give him a chance; he didn't mean to do |

Mary Sophia Green, wife of the previous "witness, corroborated her husband's evidence. . V Charles Woulka and Thomas bright also gave evidence. Ernest John Woottou said he resided opposite the Greens. On. the night, in question he was in hod, and was awakened by a disturbance., and went out. Green handed him a revolver, and his attention was afterwards drawn to the fact that it was loaded. Constable Miller said, that about 10.30 w.m. on the day of the assault he pas'sed Colbert's house, which was quiet, and he went on then towards Green's house, Woulka was with accused on the verandah. Witness spoke to Colbert, and' told him he had no right to create such a- disturbance, and Woulka took him home. Witness stayed in the locality until a quarter to twelve, when he went home. He hadn't .been there many minutes when Woulka- called him, and he went to Green's. On the way he met Woottoii. who handed over a revolver, fully loaded with ball ammunition. Witness went on to Green's and arrested accused on the present charge. Accused was perfectly sober. To Mr Donnelly: The constable gave aecused a good character. Mr Donnelly: Have you observed that the revolver will not go off if you pull the trigger? Witness: I don't think it- will.

The Magistrate, holding the weapon That is so. Tt won't.

Mr Donnelly: I think you might have mentioned that, Mr Miller.

Accused pleaded not guilty. Mr Bailey: The ea.se is a peculiar one., and I would not feel justified in dismissing it. The fact that the revolver wouldn't go off is curious. The Senior Sergeant: It is a question as to whether the accused knew that. Accused was committed for trial at the Supreme Court. Rail was allowed in two sureties nf £'23 each.