Attempted Murder.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8155, 3 April 1906, Page 3

Attempted Murder.

A Strange Case.

Vv I'jLLfMGTON, Aprti 2. the Police Court Jo-day, Francis I'. E Bocjvifl wns charged with attonptmg 10 murder James BeUie, at Day's Buy, cm 27tk March. Annie Keillc, wife* of .Tames KeUle, deposed : I was married to James Eeille on Sfitli'March hist, and we went to live at lion a Bay;. On the foUowing day X saw the accused atllona Bay about ■>% o'clock, 1 wa« going to Mr Williams store to get some stores. The store is about a quarter of a mile from my house. Just as I got to the store the 'bus arrived from Muritfti; and accused got out of the 'bus. He was intoxicated. He asked me what I was doing!"there. I said ! was married,, He asked me to go Imck to Woilington with him. I replied that I could not. I walked along the road towards the Bay, and bo was attempting to persuade mo to go back with him, I told bira I was married, hut he would not beliovo mo. When I got round a bend in the road he said ho would shoot me if I did not go back with him. He pulled a revolver out of hia pocket, but it was not loaded. I was afraid of bim, and then I told him I was not married and would go on the boat if bo would give me the revolver. He put the revolver back in his overcoat pocket. I had a little boy with mo all the time. Accused asked me to take the boy back, but I said, " No; the boy belongs to Day's Bay." I then said X would like a cup of tea. I said this in order to be able to got assistance if necessary. When we got to the gate of the pavilion he asked me if I was going in to get tea. I said No." He then asked nic to go to town with bim, and I said if lie gave me the revolver I might go. We stood for about half an hour on the road. As Mr Reille was comiug down the road, accused took the revolver out of his pocket again and said he would shoot me ami would also shoot himself. He also said be would shoot Mr Iteille if he came anywhere near inc. He said this before Mr Beille appeared in sight. Then accuaedl took out the revolver when my husband came in sight. I did not see him load the revolver, but I saw him tai-c a cartridge out oi' his pocket. I think be put the cartridge into his waistcoat pocket. When I saw my husband coming along the road, I called to hint to eor.no quickly. When accused took; tho revolver out of his overcoat poelceS I txicd to hold,hh arm. He tried to pull his arm away. We struggled and wo y both fell. I got up first and lan towards Mr lleille. Accused etill had the revolver in bis hand. My husband then ran up, und after a short struggle knocked Bocquet do»vn. During tho struggle I took the revolver out of accused's hand and gave it to Mr Reille.

Cross .ex&minnd : Were you living with Boequet on Monday, tho 25th, the day before you were married to Reille?— Yes, I could not get rid of him ; he would not leave ino. With all his faults, did Bocqaet love you ?—-Yes. Did Boequet ever write letters to you ? —Yes, ho often, wrote letters to me and left them on the bedroom table and other placet*. I used to bum them, Were the letters ho wrote to you respectfully worded'?— Yes. Wero they not the letters of a man to a woman he loved ?—Yes, Did Bouquet have an opportunity to shoot lieilio as Reiile approached?—• I Yes. Did Boequet fire or attempt to lire ?— No. If Boequet desired to shoot lleille he could have done so ?~Yes. By Detective Broberg: When you say Boequet did not attempt to shoot Reille, you mean that the revolver did not go off? Witness: Yes. Why did you live with Boequet?— Because ho promised to marry me as soon as ho was in a position to do so. I left Boequet to marry Reille bccause Boequet could not keep me. James Reille, a labourer, residing at Rona Bay, deposed that he was married to Mrs Reille last Monday at the Registry Office. He saw the revolver in accused's hand. During tho struggle accused got his arm round the back of witness 1 neck. Witness continued : " I could feel tho revolver touch my hair. I heard tho hammer fall. I managed to throw him to the ground and Becured the hand with the revolver. I wrenched tho revolver from accused and handed it to my wife. Wo .all three walked towards the Day's Bay wharf, and on arrival there I asked someone to telephone for tho police. David John Dick, carter, Muritai, and Hugh Downep, wharfinger at Day's Bay, gave evidence. Downes aaid tho revolver was loaded in every chamber when it was handed to him. Tho hammer had apparently ialien on four cartridges. W. H. Tiedall, gunamith, deposed that tho missfiro was eausod by a defect in the revolver.

Accused wan committed for trial.