ATTEMPTED MURDER AT DEVON PORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7694, 20 July 1886, Page 7

ATTEMPTED MURDER AT DEVON PORT.

At the Police Court yesterday, before Messrs C. D. Whitcombe and J. G. Corbett, J.P.'s Michael Lunny appeared on remand from Friday, on the charge of shooting at Margaret Louise Lunny, his wife, with intent to murder her, at Devonport, on June 16. Before resuming, MrO'Meagher pointed out that Mrs Lnnny appeared weak and unable to stand the cross-examination ho would have to submit her to. In reply to the Bench the witness said she was quite able to proceed, although suffering from weakness. At the suggestion of Sergeant Trait, who conducted the prosecution, the case proceeded. Crost - examination resumed by Mr. O'Meagher: Sh« had carried on correspondence with McGuire during the time that he was a resident in the house. She did not remember Lunny objecting to her going to the Opera House with McGuire as he was a single man. The letter she wrote to McGuire was addressed " My darling George." Lunny had stated that he did not consider that a proper thing. At the time she wrote the note she did not think there was auy harm in it. McGuire had done them a kind action when they needed it, and she could see no harm in what she had done. Since leaving she had resided the most of the time with Mrs. Kenwick, in Nelson-street, where she took a house from Mr. Kiordan, in the name of Mrs. Thomson. George McGuire had visited the house on several occasions during the evening. Her husband had come to her at the house, and offered to arrange with her to return to her home. She offered to do so, if he allowed her to take the baby—thu youngest — and she would care for it, hut he said he would see her d first. He walked up Queen-street with her as far as the railway station. On packing up the evening she left home she left a note for her husband, saying that she would be his wife no more. Lunny afterwards said he would forgive anything, but she said she had done nothing to forgive. She could not admit having done what she had never done. McGuire stopped in the house one Saturday night till the following Monday morning. Although he did not stop in the house all Sunday, he slept there on Saturday and Sunday nights. She denied that she had ever said to Lunny that she wanted » lover, and she would have McGuire for one. The only intimacy she had was a note which she sent to him. She was not in the habit of giving McGuire any delicacies farther than the other men received. She had got him eggs and milk at the wish of her husband, aud for which McGuire gave the money. She had seen McGuire at Mrs. Kenwick's since leaving the Hospital. He merely called to hear how she was getting on. She still received the visits of McGnire because if there was any blame attachable to them, it was on her part, as McGuire had wished her not to write the note. She told her husband that if McGuire left the house the other men would get to hear of it. and would leave also on account of his (Lunny's) jealousy. She did not at any time say that she would go so far as to commit perjury. She did not think that the matter would come to what it was. She might have said to Luucy that if Maguireleft she would leave. It was not true that she had gone to a herbalist to procure medicine for a certain purpose. She had gone to a herbalist named Clifford to procure medicine for weakness. She could not remember all her answers to her husband, as there bad been so many squabbles between them. She had procured a second bottle for he purpose of having a stronger dose. The Court then adjourned till two o'clock. Dr. Parkinson deposed that he was called to attend to Mrs. Lunny at night, at Mr Hopkins', Beach Koad. She was in an armchair, looking pale but collected, and stated that she had been shot, and blood was runniag down her legs. Upon examination he found a small penetrating wound, a quarter of an inch in diameter, situated in the left groin. Above the wound was a graze of about six inches. He then dressed it, not finding any foreign body. He extracted nothing from the wound. A small bullet would have caused the wound. Judging from the history of the case, and appearance of the wound, it was dangerous to attempt to extract the bullet, and it was better to leave it alone. It was a dangerous wound, but not necessarily fatal. Witness recognised the clothing produced as belonging to Mrs. Lunny. The hole in the dress was above the wound, and that was caused by the bullet grazing the clothing, and then inflicting the wound. Mary Ann Kenwick, wife of John Renwick, ironmonger, Nelson-street, deposed that she had known Mrs. Lunny for about three years. She had lived with her for about a month after she first left her husband. Witness remembered June 16, and accompanied her to the North Shore, leaving the house just after eight o'clock, and they missed the half past eight p.m. ferry steamer, and caught the nine o'clock boat. On arriving at the North Shore, she accompanied her along the road, when the accused came up to them and inquired where they were going. He asked witness if Mrs, Lunny was not stopping with her. She replied, "No but Lunny said he knew better ■Witness did not hear what further passed between Mrs. Lunny and the accused, but they had some words. She had some idea that something was going to happen. Lunny began searching the pockets of his overcoat. Ha then pulled something out, and fired a shot. Mrs. Lunny then threw her arms around witness, and said the was shot. Witness had her back to the accused, who then fired another shot, the bullet passing through her (witness's) shawl. Mrs. Lunny was then taken to Mr. Hopkins' house. To Mr. O'Meagher : Witness had advised her that she should not receive the visits of McGuire, but should get a situation. Mrs. Luimy said it would be all right in the end. James Featherstone deposed that he was a labourer at Devonport, and remembered the night the shooting occurred. He saw the accused about hair-past ten o'clock on that night near the Calliope boardinghouse. He asked him what was up, as he seemed in great distress. He said his wife had gone away with a fellow named M,cGuire, and seemed mad with trouble. Lunny had a revolver in his hand at the time. Witness having heard of the shooting case knew of the occurrence. As far as he could remember Lunny said he had shot at his wife, and it had taken effect. Lunny then went up the road towards the wharf, and witness followed him. He entered into conversation with a man named Willau, and the latter and witness chaffed Lunny about the revolver, saying it was no good as they wanted to get hold of it. Willan said it was not loaded. Lunny then fired a shot saying that will show you that it is a good one. Lunny then handed the weapon to Willan for him to examine it. There was then a bit of a tussle to get it back again, during which Willan handed it over to witness. He took it off to his tent on the top of the hill near the boardinghouse. The revolver (produced) was similar to the weapon he handed over. James Willan, labourer, Devonport, remembered June 16, and knew Lunny. He met him and said, "Hullo Lunny, where are you going?" He replied, "Have you seen anything of that devil?" He also said that he had shot his wife with this, producing a revolver from his pocket. Featherstone then came along, and after a talk he fired another shot in the air, saying, " Now is it not loaded?" Alter some persuasion Lunny gave the revolver to witness. William Henry Hazard, gunmaker, QueenStreet, deposed that he recognised the revolver produced as being exactly similar to a portion of a consignment. He had sold one by itself, and had since disposed of several to persons fitting out for Kimberley. This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr. O'Meagher said he did not propose to call witnesses for the defence. The Bench intimated that there was a prima facie case to go before a jury. The depositions were then read over to the accused, who, on being cautioned as to any statement he had to make, said he reserved his defence. The Bench then committed the accused to take his trial on the charge of attempted murder, at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court in October next. SECOND CHARGE. In reference to the second charge against Michael Lunny, for shooting at George McGuire, Sergeant Pratt said he was not prepared to go on with it that day, and applied for a remand of a week. Mr. O'Meagher pointed out that he would be engaged in another Court on that day. The Bench then remanded the case to JLuesday next, July '27.