A PECULIAR CASE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2371, 30 May 1906, Page 2

A PECULIAR CASE.

ACCUSED DISCHARGED. PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, May 28. A youth named George Hassett pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court that he attempted, at Mount Eden, on or about March loth last, to cause actual bodily harm to Charles Hassett (his father) by discharging a loaded revolver at him. Mr C. J. Tunks appeared for the prisoner. Evidence was given by Charles Hassett to the effect that he had a dispute with his wife about the prisoner not getting work. He and his wife were pushing each other about, and prisoner then arrived and entered the room with a loaded revolver. Witness and prisoner had had some angry words previous to the disturbance. Prisoner fired at witness’s head, and the bullet was embedded there still. For the defence Mr Tunks said that the evidence for the prosecution was admitted, with the exception of intent. Prisoner entered the house, and saw his father pushing his mother about, and, with a view to frightening him, fired over his head, but unfortunately at that moment Hassett raised his head, and received a shot on the side of the head. His Honor briefly addressed the jury, remarking that it was a case for them to consider whether the prisoner had any intent when tie fired at his father. It appeared to His Honor au easy matter to miss a person who was very close. The jury returned a verdict that the prisoner, “Fired carelessly, but without intent to do grievous bodily harm.” His Honor: That is not guilty. If those are the tacts you find, you must return a verdict of not guilty. The jury accordingly returned a verdict of not guilty, and Hassett was discharged. His Honor informed Hassett that he had better he a little more careful in the future or lie would end up in a very had place. Hi* could not see any excuse for Ha."ett shooting at his father. In making this remark, he was not reflecting on the jury.