DISCHARGING FIREARMS. Auckland, May 11.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 23

DISCHARGING FIREARMS. Auckland, May 11.

On Saturday night about 10 o'olock an exciting episode fccok place is O'Connell itreefc. A youug man numed Hurry Yiuoeufc Martin, an engraver, who has an upstairs room in High street, where he resides, has been of lato developing sundry eccentricities, which were not p^id much attention to, as he had bean formerly, it is stated, in the asylum for a abort time. At the abovo honr Mr Obafles Johnson, head storetnan and caretaker of Messrs Brown atid Campbell's stores, went out fco make a purchase in Hhortlnnd street, arid Mr« Johnsoa and her two daughters went out to the street gato to wait for him. While there they heard » nome proceeding from Martin's back room, which overlooks a vacant allotment at the rear, and commands a clear view of O'Connell street and of Johnson's residsncs. They cro»ord the street, lookad over the fence, and saw that ' Martin* room window wa3 half open, and that he was walking up and down talking to himself and gesticulating. Mrs' Johnson made some remarks as to his strange conduct, when one of her daughters, Maud, seeing the flash of a pistol, called out "Ran; he's going to shoot." They turned to run, when Edith Williams, a stepdaughter of the Johnsons, in turning called out that she was hit, and limped across tha street to her father's bouss and fainted. She stated that *he had been •hot in the calf of the leg, a second shot being ■ fired in close succession. Detective Grace, after vainly asking admittance from Martin and stating hit mission, at last burst the door in, and at once secured Martin, and two officers who assisted him, on looking round, found a revolver taken to pieces and some cartridges" beside it, also a tin of cartridge!. He was taken to the look-up and charged with shooting with intent to kill. Martin, it is stated, made a statement to the effect that his revolver was dogged, and that in trying to> clean two chambers the pistol went off accidentally. It was fortunate that the bullet struck tha fencing first, as it' was thereby deflected and partly spent In foroo, but went into the fleshy part of the calf of Miss Williams'* kg at one aide and passed put *t the other. The youog lady is progressing favourably. Martin is s»id to ba well connected and to have a brother residing. in Dunedin/ Martin appeared before the Police Court today, charged with shooting Edith William* through the calf of the leg. The accused, who said he was afflicted with religious mania, had been in the asylum pnsvlonriy. He further stated that he did net know the girl. Tha defence ia, that the shooting wm ftOoidCDMt The case was adjourned.