ATTACKED WITH A GUN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20842, 8 April 1931, Page 10

ATTACKED WITH A GUN.

GIRL GRAVELY WOUNDED.

ARREST OF MAN FOLLOWS. ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. SEQUEL TO HASTINGS PARTY. |_B¥ TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HASTINGS, Tuesday. As the result of serious gunshot wounds received about 1 a.m. to-day, Miss Mavis Steele Smith, aged 23, is lying in the racecourse emergency hospital in a grave condition. Hubert Frederick Nunn, aged 43, of Havelock North, was arrested this morning at Havelock North and charged at the Hastings Police Court with attempted murder. lie was remanded for a week.

Miss Smith is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Thomas Smith, of Pakowhai Road, Hastings. She had been to a party and was driven homo in a motor-car by n. man friend. She bade him good-night and he drove away. Miss Smith entered the gate arid had almost reached the door of tho house, when a shotgun was fired at her from behind. She received shocking wounds in the neck, head and shoulders.

Tho indications are that the perpetrator of the act was waiting under tho cover of several ornamental shrubs near the front gate, and, as Miss Smith walked toward the house, stepped from hiding and advanced to the pathway, being about six yards directly behind tho girl, who collapsed about four paces from tho front doorstep. When her people reached her slio was in a semi-conscious state.

While awaiting the arrival of the police and doctor Miss Smith was moved from tho path to the grass. She had a fleeting moment of consciousness after tho arrival of Senior-Sergeant Carroll and Detective Farquharson, and then lapsed into unconsciousness again. Upon the arrival of the ambulance she was removed to tho racecourse hospital. Nunn is well known in Hastings and is said to bo well to do. He is understood to have a wife and child in Wellington. For some weeks he has been acting as a voluntary worker in tho Hastings labour registration office. This evening Miss Smith was reported to be showing a marked improvement, although her condition was still dangerous.