A MIDNIGHT ENCOUNTER

NZ Truth, Issue 1175, 7 June 1928, Page 8

A MIDNIGHT ENCOUNTER

Gun Play During Fierce Session In Southern Township ■.'..'' (From "N.Z. Truth's" Timaru Representative.) The sudden and dramatic conversion of the peaceful little township of Otaio, near Timaru, to a raging vortex m the small hours recently, has found a sequel m the law court, two, men to stand trial on charges of break ing and entering by night with intent to intimidate the occupants, with a further charge against one of them of assaulting a woman. Following gun 'play, used, it is alleged by an eighteen-year-old youth as a means of selfdefence, the two accused Were admitted to hospital.

'THE sequel to this sensational affair 1 came out at the Timaru Magis-

the second occasion, Barr was attacked by an unseen assailant.

lA. bottle was hurled at his Read, but < missed its. mark and struck a picture .; ' on. the wall JN smashing it. ;

< trate's Court last week, when Bernard Lewis Biackwell and Ernest Gladstone McCunn appeared on charges of breaking and entering by night the homes of William Alfred Ancell and Robert Barr with intent to intimidate the occupants. An additional, charge against Blackwell was one of alleged assault on Caroline Dox-a Ancell. Magistrate R. Orr- Walker heard the case. Detective H. Nuttall prosecuted; Lawyer M. L. Inglis appeared for Biackwell and Lawyer W. H. Walton for the other accused. . It appears from the , evidence that Biackwell, m company with McCunn and Stowell, had been at Makikihi and St. Andrews on the night of May 10. ".'■■' •-. .

her son a double-

barrelled shotgun

It was alleged that Biackwell then

assaulted Mrs. An-

cell by striking. her m the chest with his fist. A struggle ensued between Blackwell and Raymond Ancell, but after a while Blackwell was induced to leave the house. Thinking that lie intended to reenter, ho-wever, if was then that Raymond Ancell fired his first- shot. Uhis, it was said, was a warning to the attackers and was also intended to arouse his uncle, Robert Barr, who was living next door. . . / It was alleged that, with his friend, Blackwell next turned his attention to the home of Robert Barr. The shot which Raymond Ancell had fired apparently had the effect of momentarily quelling the outbreak. , i „ Robert Barr, so he told the magistrate, had been aroused from his sleep by the sound of the shot. He had been lying awake when "the sound of a window going m" told him that his house was being attacked. Rushing to the kitchen, he armed himself with -a "coal shovel, arid then, entering the bedroom of his children, he found Blackwell sprawling across a bed m which were two terrified youngsters. At sight of Barr, .Blackwell, it is alleged, said: "Now I've got you, Barr, I I'll well murder you! I'll murder you before I leave, this house to-night." Barr immediately set upon his assailant, striking him over the I head two or three times with the shovel. Blackwell retreated through the window and went round tothe back door, seeking, it was ' said,* to force his way m by that means; He was forestalled m this attempt, but broke m through a window of the dining-room.

JVhile Bl.ackwell was breaking m on

Children's Terror

Meantime, Raymond Ancell had returned to the scene. .

It was alleged that McCiinn was at the back door, shouting 1 : "Let me m!"

Twice the eighteen-year-old defender warned him to clear off, and when the man showed no signs of obeying, he fired, missing him. A moment or so later, according to young Ancell's story, Blackwell appeared, saying: "Get your gun, Charlie, and shoot the — — w They ' fired at us, so we will murder them m " ■ ■. - - ,

In his absence, Blackwell and Mct-\ Cunn toad renewed their attack on the'

house of the Barrs,

More windows were smashed, arid at the sound of breaking glass, Ancell again took up his gun. ' As he told the magistrate, he did not know whether the attackers were /? armed or not; it seemed from'their threats that they were intent on. doing bodily harm. . . . ''' Going otit into the darkness, lie i could just outline the figures of the attackers. ' " His repeated warnings were Ignored, so Raymond fired two shots m quick succession. ' , ■ ; Blackwell was wounded about the body and McCunn m the thighs. Ancell's next ,act was to tell the police the story of the shooting-. David Stowell, who had driven- the men to the scene, conveyed them to the Timaru hospital m his car. Their wounds healed quickly, and' both were brought before the magistrate on the charges already enumerated. , Both men. pleaded, not" guilty, reserved their defence, and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial: Bail was fixed at £1000 m Blackwell's case and £400 m the case of McCunn. '' Lock, stock, and barrel— leave packing and transport to N.Z. Express Company, Limited. No matter how short the notice or how great the distance, possessions will be delivered on time, safely and economically. Estimates given at all our offices. All work under the care of experts. If you get sudden notice of transfer, call and see us.— N.Z. EXPRESS CO., LTD.* :.'"■■. WANTED SELL Super Quality English Sleeping Bags reduced to 50/- each, at Disposal Sales Deppti Buckle St., Wellington. Obtain • order form from Post Office. ,h.