THREAT WITH RIFLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23107, 5 February 1937, Page 10

THREAT WITH RIFLE

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FARMER SHOT FIRED AT DETECTIVE CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER (Peb United Press Association! NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 4. Dramatic events in the backblocks near Whangamomona were recounted in the Police Court to-day. when William Joseph Fox, a farm manager for the Crown Lands Department at Aotuhia, was committed for trial on a charge of attempting to murder Detective Patrick Kearney, and with discharging a firearm at the detective with ‘intent to resist arrest. Detective Kearney told the court that he was instructed to interview Fox with regard to alleged bigamy He had a telephone conversation with Fox, in which the accused man seemed perfectly reasonable. The detective did not disclose the nature of his business over the telephone Later, with Constable Johnson, of Whangamomona, he motored to Fox’s farm. To their surprise they found Fox waiting for them with a rifle in his hands. His wife and two children were with him, and the children were crying. The wife was obviously trying to pacify Fox. At Fox’s request the detective had brought from Whangamomona Fox’s mail and groceries. Menacing them with the rifle, witness stated, Fox told him to stand still, and ordered the constable to take the groceries and mail to the end of a swing bridge leading to the house. Fox ordered his wife to take the goods from the constable while he held his rifle at the ready He walked up to the detective, and Kearney tried to pacify him, but without effect, so the detective decided to seek cover, and suddenly plunged into the bush. Fox called out to him to be a man and come out on the road. This he did, and Fox ordered him to put his hands UP The detective explained the object of his visit, and at Fox’s order threw his papers on the ground. Fox s wife handed the papers to Fox. Meanwhile the detective was edging towards the bush. Either through what he read in the papers or because of a movement of the detective, Fox suddenly seized the rifle which he had placed against a fence, and fired at Kearney. The detective moved quickly and the bullet missed its mark. The detective again plunged into the bush. Meanwhile Constable Johnson was a few yards away with his hands up Two stock buyers drove along the road in a car, and after considerable argument, the police officers were able to get away quietly. The commissioner of Crown lands (Mr F. H. Waters), who was on good terms with Fox, went out from New Plymouth to try to make Fox listen to reason, but he spent almost the whole of the night in peril of his life before he could persuade Fox to give up possession of the rifle and accompany him to New Plymouth, where Fox surrended to the police. Fox telephoned the detective and told him he had fired the shot only to frighten the detective. Mr R. H. Quilliam, who appeared for the Crown, paid a tribute to the bravery and tact of the police officers and of Mr Waters, as well as of one of the stock buyers, Mr Rod M‘Rae, who exercised considerable tact.