THE WANGANUI SENSATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15223, 22 May 1920, Page 7

THE WANGANUI SENSATION.

, "*^ i (Per Press Association.) i WANGANUI. last night. : Mr. C. E. Mackay, who is at present. on remand on a charge of attempted murder of Walter IDarcy Cresswell, has tendered his resignation of the position* of Mayor of Waaganui, which he has held for over 13 years. j A message sent from Wanganui on Monday states: — The returned soldier, Mr W. Darcy Cresswell, who was wounded by a revolver bullet on Saturday, is showing satisfactory progress afc the hospital, and, though he is nob yet out of danger, his recovery appears hopeful. The bullet, which is believed to be embedded m the lung, has not yet been located and 'an operation will probably be necessary. O. E. Mackay, Mayor of Wanganui, was charged with attempted murder, m the Magistrate's Court this morning. Mr W. J. Treadwell thanked the inspector and other officers of the police on behalf of the accused for the great courtesy and kindness they had shown m discharging what must have been a painful duty. He also # suggested that the newspapers would not publish statements of the affair obtained from outside individuals. Such a request was only fair to Mr Mackay, who had been placed m a very serious position. Statements might appear m the newspapers which might be prejudicial to the case. He felt sure his request was reasonable. The Magistrate replied that his experience of the press of the Dominion was that 'they always treated such cases after the manner they should be treated. i Counsel then applied for bail, but counsel for the prosecution said he regretted' that his instructions were to oppose bail being granted, .for the nature of the charge might develop into a more serious one. He also considered it would be to* Mr Mackay's own interest that bail should * not bo granted, as he 'was naturally m a high state of nervous tension. The Magistrate stated that he was not aware what the evidence for the prosecution would be. The Crown would be m the best position to judge the seriousness of the charge by reason of the knowledge of the evidence that might be produced. , The charge "was of such a serious nature, •' and as the life of the man was m danger | he would have to refuse the application . for bail, and would remand the accused until May 24. . j The Magistrate asked whether it was \ proposed to take the evidence of the injured man at the hospital, or would he be ready to be removed m a week. Mr Hutton replied that it was possible ' Mr Cresswell would no^t be m a fit state j to be removed within a week. j Mr Treadwell then requested that the proceedings should be expedited as much as possible. j Mr Hutton gave the' assurance that the j request would be acceded to. 1 I The remand was then granted. \ I