SHOOTING CASE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

North Otago Times, 23 September 1908, Page 4

SHOOTING CASE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

, „ A STJIANGB STOBY. ' '"' '' f * ' ,r Per Press Association. Chrjstchurch, September 21 Jo* at midnight last night- when J TO men wero, cycling ] um mi - Jwnmw S () unr e they heard groans rom thereof a tiw'ncar tho footpath. On aUgntinjr they found a joung man lying on the grass in gioat agony. > complaml. ofhav- ,' ■ng been shot ?,y man whom> lie 1 ™ld not identify, One;of the men IBaggs) saw thai tho wounded man's " «'St ne a r the he a rt was'smouldering near a bullet tole, and at once extinguished tho fire. Tho other man Hornibrook) called the poKce ambulance ami Dr Irving. The injureJ man gave' his name. ,as Charles %neton; and; his 1 ; story.':was that he '■■ '•■' lived with : his'' mother 'in Peterbor- \';. : ' ough Hq hadgoner%6r a BBerVV Square to 'meet another ;■ but 'could /not; say'who; .'he ;was.T-)i; ■: While sitting. 06 the end of a bench' " waiting; for thq ttwni he'expected, an- ' ; other man wearing hlueeoeffleaoame

up :from' behind'.' and; accosted him. After questioning, him.as to .who ho was waiting' for the v rann with the: goggles shot Bryneton. ; Tho latter said he was' shot from behind, but the wound was plainly, visible in his breast. Search in. the vicinity result<s' in the ] finding, of.a box of cartridges from which 'five •had been taken. These were accounted for by found in a revolver ■ Picked up a- few yards off. Ono :cartridge;,had '■■■'■ be?n fired and three others, had •apparently, missed fire. Brynoton Was wearing a coat and greatcoat, liiit, neither was louchi'd by the bullet.. Dr Irving said the bullet had ..glanced off a rib', otherwise it wo'uld have caused death. Brynoton, who was taKcn to the hospital is not expected to liv'o. Tho story told by him is doubted, and' tho whole thing 'points to insanity mid suicide.. ..;,•:, ~ , later.

Bi'ynotori admiia tHat lie shot himself. Ho said so to v. dotective this morning, adding that the story of the man with the grocn goggles was .■ untrue. ■. _... DoteotivQ Kennedy visitod dho hospital this morning in- tho'hopo ..that Bryenton would confess to shdotinj ,■ 'limsolf, but Bryenton denied that hn had attempted to taUo his own life, and firmly -adhered, to his original statement that ho had tan fired at, nnd wounded'by a strang«r. However, tte Detective avain saw Bryenton this • afternoon, and the latter then mado a statemcntl to tho effect that he had attempted suicide, bryenton . made the foflowing, statcmtnt to Detcotiyo Kennedy,,which ho sigaetl:'" I, Chtirlcs Bryenton, admitj'that the statomont. raado to the Sorgean't of Police last night was not toe, I.shot myself, tccnusa I wai despondent, I sent tho post card the. detective showed me to my brother, which showed ham my intention. I make this statement voluntarily" It is understood that Bryenton hnslonn greatly troubled over his finfmcin) affairs. Ho recently figurctl in court proceeding, and «n order was made ■ against him for the payment of a certain amount. Ho had got ibehind in his payments, Arid, was hein? pressml to soiiaro up .arrears. Dr Cooke,, house surgeon n't the hoßpiW, states that tho man is still in a wry critical condition. Ho id in too low ft state to permit of an operation beinn performed to extract the" hullot. Brvcnton slept soundly during the afternoon.