SIR L. PHILLIPS SHOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 7

SIR L. PHILLIPS SHOT.

JOHANNESBURG AFFAIR. ASSAILANT ARRESTED. REASON FOR THE DEED. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. (Received December 12, 11.10 p.m.) Johannesburg, December 12. A shooting affair, in which Sir Lionel Phillips is concerned, occurred yesterday outside the Rand Club in Johannesburg. Sir Lionel was wounded in the abdomen and neck. His assailant was a storekeeper named Nissum, who fired four shots in all from a five-chambered revolver. His first shot missed its mark, and a crowd ran up. Nissum threatened the crowd while he fired at Sir Lionel, who finally dropped unconscious with a bullet in his liver. The onlookers secured Nissum before ho was able to commit suicide, : knocking up his arm. The bullet grazed Nissum's forehead. Sir Percy Fitzpatrick then lilted his friend into a taxi and drove him to the hospital. Meanwhile Nissum, who kept perfectly cool during the occurrence, cried to his captors:. "Don't hurt me. The police will arrest me." Nissum is a Russian. He accuses Sir Lionel Phillips of trying to ruin him. It is understood that he lost a lawsuit against the mining group with which Sir Lionel is connected. The latest bulletin is that the bullet pierced Sir Lionel's lung and liver. His general condition is good. In Nissum's pocket was found a letter addressed to the newspapers. When arrested'he said: "Hand me the revolver, and I'll save you the trouble of hanging me." Phillips's secretary states that Nissum recently brought a letter of introduction to Phillips, who gave instructions that everything should be done to help him. Nissum opened a store at Bantji's Mine, and began trading with the natives of Ferrier's Deep Mine. _ The authorities warned him to desist, but Nissum refused and was arrested for trespass.

ECHO OF JAMESON RAID. The wounded man was one of the Reform Committee of the Outlanders in the old Johannesburg, and with many others was r ion e /' after Dr Jameson 's abortive raid '" "™> m a char 6 e of high treason. In April, 1896, four of the ringleaders were sentenced by the Transvaal Judge Gregorowski to death. One was Phillips, and the others—equally well known— Mr. John Hayes Hammond, Mr. (now Sir) G. Farrar, and Colonel Frank Rhodes. The sentences were afterwards commuted to imprisonment and banishment. Sir L. Phillips is a partner in the firm of Wernh,er, Beit and Company, and was formerly President of the Johannesburg Chamber of Mines. His wife has written "Some South African Recollections."