MAN SHOT IN OFFICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20465, 17 January 1930, Page 13

MAN SHOT IN OFFICE.

* . ' youth before the court.

attempted murder charge

BULLET LODGED IN LUNG.

FINGER-PRINTS PRODUCED.

ACCUSED SENT FOR TRIAL.

[TIT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday.

A charge of attempting to murder Edward Hammond on July 16 was to-day made against Charles Robert Gray, the younger of the two brothers who had previously pleaded guilty to 31 chiyges of arson, attempted arson, and burglary. Accused, who is 17 years old, pleaded not guilty. He was committed for trial.

Accused was further charged with breaking and entering the shop of Hnmmond and Turner, at 132, Oxford Terrace, on July 16. Another charge was one of breaking and entering the same premises on July 21. He pleaded guilty to these offences. Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., was on the Bench. Mr. M. J. Burns appeared for accused, and Chief-Detective Carroll conducted the police proceedings.

Wounded Man's Story. In giving evidence Edward Hammond said; —"I returned to my office at 9.30 p.m. on the day in question to do some work. I locked the front door after me. I saw a suitcase on the counter packed with goods, and an empty one on tfie floor. I saw a jemmy on the coupter, and saw th» communicating door open. I heard a noise from the back store. I went through, and saw a young fellow there in the light of my torch, and asked him what he was doing. He replied, 'Thieving.' He said he came in through the roof, but denied that he had been there before. "When I told him ha must come to the police station with me, he asked to be allowed to get his coat. As he was getting it he asked to be let off, and said something about a shodc to his mother. I said he would have to com§ to the station with me, but that I would try to make it as light as possible. He put his coat on. I went down the shop with him, and as 1 was unlocking the door 1 was shot in the back. Managed to Reach Footpath. "I heard him running back down the shop, and knew I would ha\;e to unlock the door and get assistance. 1 just managed to unlock the door and get to the footpath. There were two ladies on the footpath outside. I also hailed a passing motor-cyclist. Another man came along shortly after, and I told him all about it. The police came along very shortly, and I was taken to St. George's Hospital, where I was for about three weeks. The bullet is still in the lung. I had no recollection of seeing the man who shot me before." The Chief Detective: Have you recognised him since ?

Witness: Yes, he is the accused. The Magistrate: Have you any doubt about that ?

Witness: None at all. Mr. Burns: How far was he away when you were shot ? Witness: He must have been right behind me.

Dr. W. H. Simpson said he examined Hammond at St. George's Hospital on July 17. An X-ray photograph showed a bullet in the left chest cavity, just be-' hind the heart. The bullet had entered about two inches higher than where it .finished in the lung. Two X-ray photographs were produced in Court, showing that the bullet wa3 still in the lung. It would be dangerous to attempt to remove the bullet, said witness.

Life Definitely in Danger. " When I saw the bullet I could not make out why he was not dead, considering the size of the bullet, said Dr. Simpson. "His life was definitely,, in danger." Constable A. T. Gillum said that at 2 15 a.m. on December 18 he had arrested accused in Manchester Street, and found that his home was in Antigua Street. He found a German automatic pistol (produced) on the premises in a wash-house. A discharged cartridge (produced) was in the chamber. Claude M. Francis, finger-print expert at police headquarters, Wellington, said that on July 19 at the Christchurch detective office he examined numerous articles (produced in Court) for fingerprints. The articles had been found in Hammond and Turner's by DetectiveSergeant Young. On a rifle stock which was in a suitcase he found three fingerprints. On another rifle he found one finger-print. On December 19 the fingerprints of Charles Robert Gray were received in Wellington. On the same day he identified the three prints on one of the rifles as being those of the left middle, ring and little fingers of Charles Robert Gray, and the one on the other rifle as being that of his left little finger. The photographs were produced, and witness enumerated the points of similarity. There was a total of 64 points. "I am satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the prints on the rifles and on the accused's finger-print form were made hv one and the same person," concluded the witness. •

Evidence by Detective. Detective-Sergeant J- B. Young said (hat. he and Detective Thomas found Hammond in the care of several people. He was in pairi and had difficulty in breathing. On making an examination of (he premises ho found there was a nolo in the roof of Hammond and l » rne [ s workshop. 16 measured about 12in. by Tin., and had been made by removing some slates from the roof that gave access to the whole of the premises. _ Witness described the finding of the suitcases. The smaller suitcase contained an air pistol, an automatic pistol and pistol ammunition. The goods disturbed in the shop were all revolvers or rifles, and the parts and ammunition for them. On December 18 witness interviewed the accused, who, in a signed statement,, said lie had gone to Hammond and Turner's and climbed on to the roof. He had a spanner, a. torch, a jemmy and a revolver. He had entered the premises in the same way before. "I got. some amniuijition from the shop and was getting other goods when Mr. Hammond came in," said the statement. "T shot him in the back. I had broken flip doors into the Combined. Buyers building, and from there into the light-of-wny. [ used the pistol I stole from the museum." The accused was then committed for trial. The charges of breaking and entering Were based on' the same evidence, and Gray was committed for sentence on each of the three charges. On a number of summary charges, including theft and wilful damage, with which the brothers were separately and jointly charged, they were convicted, and sentence was deferred.