STRANGE BACKBLOCK DRAMA

NZ Truth, Issue 1103, 20 January 1927, Page 7

STRANGE BACKBLOCK DRAMA

Sabbath Shotting Affray In Lonely Valley

"I MEANT TO FIRE OVER HIS HEAD!"

(From "N.Z. Truth's" S tratford Representative.) Standing- alone, isolated m a narrow valley surrounded by rugged hills, two small houses break the dread monotony of a desolate backblocks aspect.

FOR years the two farmers struggled, with their difficult holdings; then, with the. advent of the big Public Works camp on the Tangarakau Flats, a mile and a-half away, came swarms of workers,, bringing the promise of civilization nearer — but bringing also grim tragedy into the lives of the sturdy settlers. . It was yet early m the morning of November 14 last that the news of the tragedy reached the camp, and Constable Whiting, stationed at Whangamomona,- made his hurried trip to the homestead of Stanley Emerson Carlyle Taylor,- whose young wife and child were away on holiday. The constable found a laborer, James Farrelly, lying on a stretcher, bandages covering his face, which was injured almost beyond recognition by a charge of shot allegedly fired at almost point-: .blank range by Taylor. T The wounded man and Taylor were conveyed to Stratford, 53 miles away, where the charge against Taylor was held up for several weeks while Farrelly lay between life and death m the hospital. . Medical skill saved his life, but he will be blind m the left eye and terribly disfigured by bullet wounds m the face. He presented a pitiable appearance when he shuffled .into the crowded court, heavily bandaged, stooped and broken, but so far from revealing any vindictive feeling that it was only under threat of imprisonment that he finally consented to enter the witnessbox and tell his story. gTRANGE CONDUCT S.M. Tate presided. The case for the prosecution was m the hands of Detective Meiklejohn, of New Plymouth, while Lawyer Alf. Coleman Watched the proceedings on behalf of accused. . ' > Taylor was committed for trial to .the next sitting of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, a plea of not guilty, I with defence reserved, being entered to the charge of attempted murder. " The evidence of the principal . witnesses went to show that accused's, neighbor, Daniel John Davies, whose house was about 250 yards aWay, rose as usual about five o'clock, intending to -put m the day mustering sheep. He w.ent outside to release the dogs, he said, and happening""- to look across at Taylor's house, was surprised to see Farrelly crouching near a black tree not far from Taylor's cowshed. Owing to Farrelly's peculiar reputation m the district, Davies said he watched him closely, and was surprised to see the lurking figure steal over to Taylor's kennel, where he bent down as though patting one of the dogs. Farrelly then went back to the tree and appeared to be watching the cowshed closely. , Half crawling, he then crept towards Taylor's trapshed, peering- m through the chinks and taking quick observations round the angle of the building before returning m the same suspicious manner to his original station beside the tree. i The witness then saw Farrelly repeat his peculiar visits to the kennel and trapshed, ultimately seating himself on a log m front of the trapshed just as Taylor appeared round .the corner of his front garden on his way to the --' milking. Taylor's greeting to Farrelly was typical of a man unpleasantly purr prised. "What the — are you doing here?" he . demanded and passed into the milking-shed. ""';'- Taylor had only one cow to attend to, and when he emerged into the open again Farrelly at once exclaimed "There are some eggs inside that win- I dow; go and cook them for me, and] keep away from the ■ telephone. I

llf you don't I'll tie you ■up with a ! chain, and then look .out!" Taylor refused Farrelly's request, whereupon the intruder is alleged to have, become very. excited, and rushed off towards the kennel, where he secured a length of chain and hurried back. Farrelly's peculiar demand, backed by his strange actions, apparently filled Taylor with vague misgivings. Instead of> remaining on the spot, he entered the house, only to leave hurriedly by the front door and scramble down to the creek, where he started to climb to the railway. At this stage Thos. McDonald and his young son were having trouble m separating a strange bull from a cow and qalf they were driving along the railway. Seeing Taylor rushing towards them, they gained the impression that he was coming to assist them m handling the bull, . .' - Instead of replying to their greet-' ings, however, Taylor faced to the left and cried out twicei! "Come along' with that gun!" < Although the McDonalds could not see anyone, Davies had meanwhile approached within speaking distance. Indicating Farrelly, he called out: "What does that silly coon want?" Taylor replied: "He wants to tie me up. Bring that gun out and I'll frighten the ; !" "T SHOT HIM!" xi■ i . Davis then doubled back to the house and got his shot-gun, which was loaded m both 'barrels. On returning he met the McDonalds, who said: "That wants to tie Stan up; it's time something was done to have him shifted from here;" Davies, who probably had his own 'opinion of the railway workers, . replied: "That's a job for you fellows on the flat." Then they turned to watclf Taylor, who, witlv the gun, was again climbing the slope to his house. . Meanwhile /Farrelly, catching the drift of the , conversation between the men on the line, leaped, over a fence and ran up a gully to a point where he could see below him. Taylor is alleged to have followed him, and on sighting the crouching figure on the hillside, yelled: "Gome out of that!" By this time Farrelly apparently realised that trouble was brewing, and replied: "All right, but not as a prisoner." "You well will come as a prisoner," Taylor is alleged to have replied, and threw up the gun and fired. Davies, who had hurried after his friend, leaving the McDonalds to continue along the line, panted up /the hillside and gasped out: "Where is Farrelly?" , Taylor replied: "He is lying /'there. I have shot him." Taylor," said witness, continued: "There will be a nice how-de-db over this. I intended to fire over his head, and instead hit him m the, face." | In his own statement to , the police later, Taylor is alleged to have said that after his demand for surrender. Farrelly appeared about to run oft again, and he fired the shot m order to head him off and frighten him into submission. , • It became, essential to move 'the wounded man from the exposed hillside. , . f '. Slipping and gasping, for Farrelly is a big man, the two friends, Taylor and Davis, .Anally reached Taylor's house, where a telphone message was sent for medical assistance. Taylor attended to the 'phone, while Davies did his best to stop the bleeding., Then, when it was- 'known that a I nurse and helpers ware on their wo"«. , Davies quietly gained possession of the I weapon and sent for the police..