AN EXCITING EPISODE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10128, 11 May 1896, Page 5

AN EXCITING EPISODE.

A MAN FIRES A REVOLVER FROM HIS BED-ROOM WINDOW,

SHOOTS A YOUNG WOMAN IN THE

LEG.

HE IS ARRESTED. ON Saturday night, about ten o'o'f<*■ « exciting episode took place h U'Oonnell« streeb. lb appears that a, young man, Harry Vincent Martin, an engraver, who has an upstairs room in High-street, where he resides, in premises adjacent to thoso of McUullough and Co., printers, has been of late developing sundry eccentricities, which were nob paid much attention to, as he had been formerly, ib is stated, in the Asy.Uin for a short time. Ab the above hour, Mr. Charles Johnson, head storeman and caretaker ab Messrs. Brown and Campbell s stores, went out to make a purchase in Sborbland-streeb.and Mrs. Johnson and the two daughters went out to the stroeb gate to wait for him } while there thoy heard a noise proceeding from Martin's back room, which overlooks a vacant allotment at rear and commands a dear View of O'Connollstreet and of Mr. Johnson's residence They crossed the street, looked over tho fence, saw Martin's room window was half open, and that he was walking up and down talking to himself and gesticulating. Mrs. Johnson made some remark as to his strange oonduob, when one of the daughters, Maude, seeing tho flash of ft pistol shot, called out. " Run, he's going to shoot." They turned to run, when Edith Williams, a stepdaughter of Mr. Johnson, in turning called out she was hit, limped across the street to her fathers house and fainted. She stated that alio had been shot) in the calf of the leg, a seoond pistol shot being fired in olose succession. Mr. Johnson oame in a moment or two and ran to the police station to acquaint them, as also to ring up for medioal assistance, Dr. Lindsay and Dr. Lewis being telephoned for. At this juncture Chief Detective Grace, who had hoard of the affair down town, came to the station, and Mr. Johnson askod him, as ho knew about the treatment of wounds, to go to the house and aid in staunching the bleeding of the wound, while be (Mr. Johnson) endeavoured to get medical aid for his step daughter. Detective Graco went as requested, but finding the bleeding staunched, tried to get help to havo Martin arrested. In a short time Constable Miller, and then Constable Brian «vrived, having heard of the affair on their beats. Detective Grace and Constable Miller went, to the front of the premises, and Constable Brian to the back, so as to cub off escape in that direction. The front door was found to be locked, and Dotective Graco had at last to burst ib in. Proceeding up the staircase, Detectivo Grace found the door _ at the top looked also, and after vainly asking admittance from Martin, and stating his mission, he at last burst that door in also, Constable Miller holding the light for him to operate. On getting inside, Detective Grace at once secured Martin, and on the two officors looking round thoy found the revolver _ taken to pieces, and soino cartridges beside thorn, also a tin of cartridges. Martin was taken to the look-up, and charged with shooting with intent to kill. Martin, ib is understood, made a statement to the effect thab his revolver was clogged, and chat in trying to clean tho two chambors the pistol wenb off accidentally. Yesterday morning the fence of the vacant allotment was examined, and a bullet hole discovered about two foot from the ground, and the bullet Which had penetrated inch planking was found in tho streeb gutter. Tho other bullet has nob been found. There is reason to believo that Martin has been in the habit of firing shots out of his window, as Mr, Johnson's family havo board repeatedly : jports, as if proceeding from that direction, and they have boon also heard at tho police station, bub were conjectured to be the explosions of a gas-engine working in tbo neighbourhood. Ib was fortunate that the bullet struck the fencing first, as ib was thereby deflected, and partly spent In force, but it went into the flosh part of tho calf of Miss Williams' leg at one side, and passed out at the other. The young lady is progressing favourably under the care of Dr. Lindsay. Chiefdotectivo Graco and Constable Miller do* sorve credit for entoring Martin's room in the plucky way they did under the circumstances, as they did not know the state of affairs inside, and had no further weapons with them than their handcuffs. Martin requested the police to secure tho safoty of his property, us the doors had been burst in, and Detective Grace and Acting-detectives Bailey and Quirko wenb down to his premises and secured them. Martin is said to bo well connocted, and to have a brother residing in Dunodin. Ho will be brought up at the Police Court this morning. ________.«„_