SHOOTING HIS “BEST MAN.”

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11644, 4 May 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHOOTING HIS “BEST MAN.”

STRANGE STORY FROM THE WEST RIDING ASSIZES. At the West Riding Assizes, a* Leeds, recently. Frederick James McDonald. 24. who appeared in court wearing a frockcoat and ctrrvir.j a silk hat, was indicted for maliciously wounding Cecil Giorge McGuinness, whose real me is George Ren Mitchell, at Leeds, on October 27 --:. Counsel r.A that the alle.-cd oit cue? took place during the visit of the Savage South Africa Show to L;ed.*. prosecutor being .-' the time engaced in the '■•xhibition. si:d riiior.cr hiving formerly been conii. with it. The trouble arcsc from the fact that in August last, about two months after prisoner left the show. McDonald's wife, who was also menctd to live --ether as man and wife. On (.'sir her 27 prisoner met MtGuinness m the show, and rcouested an interview. The pair wen: to the back of the shew, Mat prisoner produced a revolver and aimed at prosecutor. McCuinness warded c:f the weapon with a vane, and pithener then -aid, -Is the little girl (his wife) with you':* Prosecutor replied that she was. and was ?oin-' towards the armoury when McDonald fired, tne bullet grazing his head. Prosecutor corroborated. In cross-ex-amination prosecutor admitted that and prisoner had' been very great friends, and that he had acted as McDonald's best man when the latter was married in March. 1900. He was still 'living with prisoner's wife. He denied that on lb*; night "f (»c----tobc-r 26 he produced a revolver in the Rockingham Arms, and said t.. a man known as "' Slim Jim," " It's a neat sort of thing to carry, and I shad kill McDonald at sight." Prisoner denied that in his interview with McDonald he said, concerning prisoner's wife. "You can't well have her back again, for I mean to blow your brains out right now."' He also denied that he put his hand to his holster, or had a revolver in his possession. He had no knowledge of bavins said in the surgery of Dr. Friend. "If was a wonder I etui not shoot McDonald first." The medical gentleman, who was called, said McGuinness' wound was not a serious one. The head was grazed by a bullet. Witness said he remembered prose-cuter saying in his surgery, '"I don't know why I didn't shoot,'' or "I wonder J didn't shoot." Prisoner himself, called for the defence, stated that he left the show in June. 1900, and em June 7 sailed for Newfoundland, where ho had the offer of a good billet, leaving his wife with her grandmother at Kensington. He came back to England three months later. Alluding to his interview with McGuinness in the show, he said that when he asked if it were true prosecutor was living with his little girl. McGuinness replied, '"Yes. it is perfectly true, and yon can't well have her back again, for 1 intend to blow your brains out right now. ' As prosecutor made the last remark lie reached down to his revolver holster, and drew a small, nickel-plated revolver from it. Prisoner added that he drew his own six-shooter and snap-shotted McGuinness. Prisoner said he went to the show because he wanted to know from McGuinness' own lips whether the statement made about him was true. Had McGuinness told him the allegations were false he would have believed him. so great was his faith in prosecutor and in his wife. Prisoner said he fired more with the intention of frightening McGuinness, who he thought; was about to shoot him. than anything else. Witnesses were called to show that, prosecutor bid produced a small revolver in the Rockingham Arms, and had threatened to shoot prisoner at sight. One of these witnesses, a man named Charles Higley. or " Slim Jim," said that when prosecutor was injured he found in the man's holster a small revolver, similar to the one that had been produced in the Rockingham Arms. In defence, it was contended that prisoner's act was one of self-defence. The jury, without leaving the box, returned a verdict of "Not guilty.'' Prisoner was accordingly acquitted. When the verdict- was announced, there was loud applause in court.