SHOT FROM AMBUSH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21830, 17 December 1932, Page 12

SHOT FROM AMBUSH

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (Per United Press Association.) HAWERA, December 16. On a charge of having attempted to murder William James Carradus, who was shot from an ambush outside his residence at Patca on the night of October 20, Alexander Myles, aged 26, a single man, was committed to the Wanganui Supreme Court for trial when he appeared before justices of the peace in the Patea Court to-day. Bail was refused. Carradus, a married man, aged 31 years, was wheeled into the court in an invalid chair to give his evidence. He referred to an alleged confession to him by Myles and denials by Mrs Carradus concerning the relationship between Myles and Mrs Carradus when the Carradus family previously had rooms at Myles’s residence. Witness returned home about 9.30 p.m. on the night of October 19 and fastened the gate with a strap. The next morning he saw that the gate had been propped open with a piece of wood. About 8.30 on the night of October 20 he answered a knock at the door, but could see no one. He walked in his pyjamas round the side of the house and was about to re-enter when he was fired at from close range, his left leg above the knee being shattered badly, He saw a man run through the gate, but could not recognise him in the darkness. Rose Pretoria Carradus, wife of the injured man, said she heard a shot and then her husband called out, “ I’m shot." When witness reached the door she saw her husband trying to crawl into the porchway. Later she noticed that the gate had'been propped open. The next morning she saw the felt wad of a shotgun cartridge lying near the back door. Replying to counsel for the accused, witness said she had been fairly friendly with Myles when they were all staying in the ono house. Counsel; Was there any talk of you and Myles leaving New Zealand together? Witness: Well, it was his idea. He wanted me to leave. The police produced statements in which Myles said he had borrowed a shotgun on October 17 to go rabbit shooting. On the night of October 19 be went into the grounds at the rear of the house where Carradus had rooms, propping the gate open, he supposed, m case anyone should come out He din not knock. After a time he went away. The next evening ho went to the house carrying the shotgun, which was loaded in both barrels. He at first placedl the gun on tbe ground near the gate. Alter the third knock on the door he picked up the gun, cocking the trigger as he did so, and hid in the bushes. Carradus, who was walking round the house, stopped near Myles’s biding place. Myles thought that Carradus was looking at him. Ho had the gun under bis arm with the barrel pointing towards Carradus, and without taking aim he pulled the trigger and the gun went off. Who Carradus fell Myles ran through the gate which ho had previously left propped *The court . suppressed portions of Myles’s statement to the police concerning his association with Mrs Carradus, The accused, who reserved Ins defence, was committed for trial.