MOORE MUZZLED.

NZ Truth, Issue 120, 5 October 1907, Page 5

MOORE MUZZLED.

SHOT AT HIS WIFE TO

FRIGHTEN HER.

Sunday Ructions at Redcliffs.

Sent for Trial to the Supreme Court.

There was a particularly lively interlude at "the Christchurch Court on Tuesday when a chap named Moore was charged with shooting at his wife and other silliosities. And he admitted the charge, but said he didn't mean it. Well, he is a curious customer. However, it appears that he merely wanted to frighten her. That is the defence. People don't walk round with revolvers m Christchurch as a rule, but this appears to be a gun loaded at both barrels. However, he couldn't hit a tin-dish, and certainly couldn't hit his wife. Mrs Annie Moore, wife of the accused, who lives at Rcrlcliffs, near Sumner, told the bench the interview she had with her husband. He had been drinking on the day m question— a Sunday. He smacked one of the children oh arrival home, and she remonstrated with him for doing so. He said "Mother doesn't Wnk anything." That was the way he addressed her. She replied that it was rather hard lines that he couldn't keep straight on a Sunday. This annoyed him, and he caught her and swung her backwards and forwards and struck her on the hip like a cursed dog that he is. The woman called on a young man Who works for them, and who had just sat down to his tea, to give her assistance. She then recognised that he had one of his uncontrollable fits upon him, and

SHE MALE FOR SHELTER. He followed her across the adjoining field, when he fired at her, after calling to her to stop, at a distance of 50 or 60 yards. F^e couldn't say whether her lovinp- husband • meant to hit her or otherwise "; he may have meant to frighten her, as he knew she was very frightened of firearms. When she came across a gate at the adjoining paddock there were four men there ; one said to her that she would be a !1 right, but anot 1 ; told her to get down the road. So she ran further on, only looking over her shoulder once. She was sure that her husband fired at her ; he had been bound to keep the peace towards hor m June. He never said anything to her of an improper nature during that time. He was prohibited ; his time wasn't up yet ; and she didn't know where he got the liquor from.

Fted Thompson, who toils for the Borough Council, said that he saw the Moores on the S'.-nc; .-•*;' evening m, question, when he heard a shot f i a gun. Shorth- afterwards a woman came rushing through the gate. She said, "For God's sake save me ;

HE WILL KILL M 3." Just then her lovely husband followed with a gun m his hand. He called on his wife to stop or he'd kill her. That was after he had fired. Thompson seized him : after advising Mrs Moore to run alon;- the road. A scuffle took place, and Thompson put him down, but couldn't take the gun from him because he resisted violently, r.ie reasoned with him. rid then called a friend to help take the gun from the fellow. This was accomplished, ms frond tcok possession of the gun and extracted a cartridge therefrom. As seen as the accused was let up from the ground he threatened to put a bullet through Thompson and went away to get a rifle. But when he came back he only had a hammer, which he put to his shoulder, and he knelt down, pretending it was a rifle. The silly coot, who was on damage bent, struck Thompson three times w.'h the carpenter's implement, and he had to call for assistance, owing to loss of blood. The handkerchief, collar, and tie produced m Court showed how much he had been beaten. They were saturated with blood and the victim evidently had a bad time. When the accused went away he threatened to shoot him. When "he first he:*rd the shot go off he heard a woman screaming. Moore seemed to be out of his mind for the time being, and his behaviour was that of a maniac. He had been boozing — and this m Holy Christchurrh, too. Moore was as dangerous as any could be, but he only had a down on his wife apparently. Another witness named Martin described the incident, and said that when Mrs Moore raced along towards himself and his companions, she said she was afraid of being shot, and when her husband sailed a 'ong with a loaded gun, it was promptly taken from him. It was an exciting time, according to this witness, when this blasted lunatic was about, and Martin didn't remember much what happened, he was so worried. Had he taken him and given him

A DAMNED GOOD THRASHING instead of letting him travel awny to get a hammer to hit Thompson with he would have done some good. Perhaps Thompson should have effected the injury himself. Martin wouldn't swear that the accused had f-ed at his wife, although he saw both of them.

Ernest Scandy, who works for Moore, told of a row between the parties. Moore knocked his wife against the wall, and she called upon him to help her. and he did so, but he only caught hold of the boss. This witness, being an employee, was extremely diffident. He merely said that he saw the man pick up the gun, and he had heard the discharge of it, but he knew nothing of the wife racing across the paddock and her husband chasing her with a gun. The accused told the Magistrate that he admitted firing the gun, but not at his wife. He wanted bail, so as to nx up his affairs a little bit. He was allowed £200 bail and one surety of £200. He goes for trial.