SHOOTING AFFAIR DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 25

SHOOTING AFFAIR DUNEDIN.

On the '7th of this month a man named JqJin. Webster, -who 'keeps a furniture ware* . house*.,jjn. street south, was before Mr H. V: "Wfddowson, S.M., on a charge of threatening to kill his wife, Mafia --Webster and was bound over to keep th» peaoe for six. months, sureties being fixed. Since then (Mrs "Webster has, it appears, being- staying with her cousin, Mrs Downes, who Jives in "JCing street, and or the 20th shortly, before 8 o'clock, Webster presented himself at tihe r door and asked to see hia wife.' _ ? : lie saw Mrs Webster and asked her to return to him, -but this she refused to do.Webster .then" said, "If you don't, I wilt phoot you,".- -.and produced a revolver, o* which . Mr.,' and Mrs Downes, who were az home , at % thp, time, endeavoured to get ' ppssession. .In jthis -.they failed, and they, then went for the police, fearing that; Webster, who ifc was "-alleged in court hadl previously threatened to shoot his wife, would do some mischief. ' - - In the meantime "George Hubbardj & brother of Mr» Downes, went after Webster, and, overtaking him at the "corner, of Cumberland - and Frederick streets,asked him what he was doing with a revolver. Webster docs not seem to havft made any reply,, but it is stated that ha pointed -the revolver at Hubbard at h distance of only a few yard and fired, A shot at him, the bullet passing betweerW Hubbard's legs. Hubbard then grabbed l Webster^ who is, a email man, and'- held him until the police came ujj. Webster was taken into custody andi locked up on a charge of having dieohaTged' a firearm at' Hubbard with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. Webster had in his possession a six-chambered revolver, one chamber of which had been recently dis^ charged. ! ■ ■ i. "^ WEBSTER BEFORE THE COURT. John Web6ter was charged with, on August 20, attempting to murder George Hubbard. — Accused, who appeared to be overcome with emotion, and sobbed! audibly, was represented by Mr W. X... Moore. • Sub-inspector Norwood eaid that recently, accused was before the Police Court, am? was bound over to keep the peace towards his wife. On the previous night, between' 7 and 8 o'clock, he went to Mrs Bownes'a house in King street, where his wife wae staying, and asked to ccc her. Mrs Webster came to the door, and had some conversation with her husband, who askedl her to go with him. This she refused fb do, whereupon accused produced a revolver, and said. " I will shoot you." Mrs Webster uttered a scream, and this brought Mr and Mfls Downes on the scene. They seized Webster, a small man, and tried to take the weapon from hinc. but -ho managed to break their hold andli get away. He was pursued by James and! George Hubbard, brothers -of Mrs Downee, and George, getting up to him, asked him, "Where is the revolver ydu have?"Accused thereupon produced the weapon, and suddenly pointed it at George, who made a rush at him and struck the hand in which he held the revolver. It went off, and the bullet passed between GeorgeHubbard's legs. Accueed was then knocked down and held until the police arrived', when he was given into custody One significant fact was that a will was found' in Webster's pocket. The Sub-inspector asked for a remand until Thursday next, so that the evidence in the case might be collected. Accused was remanded accord^ ingly.