SHOTS IN STORE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22010, 17 January 1935, Page 12

SHOTS IN STORE

POLICE COUET SEQUEL EARLY MORNING INTRUDERS CHARGE AGAINST LABOURER ACCUSED SENT FOR TRIAL,!! [by telegraph—press association] CHRISTCRURCH, Wedneeday The hearing was concluded in the-' Police Court to-day 'of the case Sp which "Leslie Pearce,-labourer, aged 29, ' was charged with discharging a revolve? at Charles Bourke* Bourne with intent ' to do grievous bodily harm. Accused was also charged with breaking and entering Bourne's shop with intent to ' commit a crime. He pleaded not guilty to the first charge and guilty to the second. Both offences were alleged to have been committed at Woodend on If; November 28, 1934. The charges were a sequel to a sensational incident in the early morning, i' when Bourne, a storekeeper, discovered intruders in his shop and fired a gun in the air, calling on the men to come Out. A shot was fired with a revolver from inside the shop, and Bourne was hit on

the left hand by a bullet when the men were making their escape. Storekeeper's Evidence Bourne, in evidence, said that on November 27 he securely locked all the ! doors and windows. About 2 a.m. he was awakened by a noise and got up to investigate. He took a single-bar-reled shotgun and two shot cartridges and went into the strfiet, to about 13 yards from the door. He called out, "Come out, you, or I'll blow your heads off." Witness also fired a shot into the air. He reloaded the gun and, as he did so, a shot was fired at him from the doof. He stepped back toward the corto'er of the shop, but not far enough, for » J second shot was fired from the door and hit him on the fingers of the left hand. Witness' wife came out on to the - road and a third shot was fired. Wit- , ness told his wife he had been hit aid then a car came round the corner and a shot was fired from it, either at him or at the Bpot at which he had been standing. Robert James. Mitchell, labourer, said that in November he was living with Pearce. On November 27 he left the house in the evening with Pearce and •procured a car. Accused and witness returned to Armagh Street and obtained some tools, including a brace and bit, keys, pliers and a torch. They drove to'Woodend, arriving about 11, and parked the car in a side road past a shop* The brace and bit were used on'the shop door and an entry was gained. Witness and accused heard someone coming round to the front of the shop and they were ordered to come out. A shot was fired by someone outside the Bhop. " Witness Continues Story

Witness said he knew that accused had a revolver with him. Pearce said that if he fired it might frighten the person outside away and give them a chance Pearcefired a Bhot from inside the shop in the general directioii of the person had interrupted them. Another shotrwas fired by the person outside and Pearce fired again toward the street. Witness though Pearce fired only two shots from the shop. They ran ont to the car, carrying the gear with them and drove to the corner, where Pearce fired another shot. Constable B. W. Wootton said that on December 6 he arrested accused on another charge. The revolver in Court was found in his possession, together with 15 rounds of ammunition.

Detective J. J. Halcrow said he made inquiries into the Woodend incident. He produced a statement by Pearce substantially on the lines of Mitchell's evidence. Pearce stated he did not aim at Bourne or intend to hit him and he did not know the latter had been injured until he read the account in newspapers. He denied firing more than two shots from the door of the store. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on the charge of discharging a revolver, and was committed for sentence on the other count.