STRANGE SHOOTING CASE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16075, 13 March 1923, Page 9

STRANGE SHOOTING CASE.

BLACK ROCK AFFRAY. MAORI SHOOTS AND THEN ASKS VICTIM TO SHOOT HIM. MASTERTON, March' 10.—Charged with the attempted murder of Janies Kenriek at .Black Rock station on February 4, l’akira. Butler Haeata, an intelligent looking native of 30 years, appeared! before Mr S. L. P. Free, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. James Kenriek, a half-caste, said lie was a shepherd and drover, residing at Black Rock station, near Mas tor top. He had known Haeata for a couple of years. While riding home on February 4th he met Haeata, who admitted during a conversation that he had said' he was going to shoot him. On reaching home witness went to lied' early, intending to get up at 1.30 to take stock to the freezing works. Sleeping in the- house were his daughters Elizabeth and Mary, and Mrs Haeata, who had! been living at bis place for about three months. ‘■PULL UP, KENRICR!”

Witness left the. house at 2.30, and when about a chain and a half away from the stable he heard a voice singing out, “Pull up, Kenriek!” He looked over and saw accused running by the side of the fence. Haeata got up and sat on the gate. He had the gun with him.

Witness sang out, “Is that you, Butler?” and Haeata replied, “That’s me.” Witness 6aid, “Are you going to do it this time?” and Haeata replied, “Ye*.”, Witness sang out, “All right, give me time,” and walked away from the trap and took his coat and hat off, and hung them, up. He then walked up to Haeata, who was about six yards away. Haeata was pointing the gun at him.

Witness said, “You may as well make a good job of it while you are at it.” Haeata took a long aim and let fire. Witness moved a little and got one shot over tho eve.

He felt, the shot go past and hit the splashboard of the cart. Haeata ran at witness with his gun presented? Witness ran farther back. The horse was rearing up, and when ho grasped the horse’s reins he got a second! shot in the left hip. Witness then ran straight to the house. About six yard's away from the back of the trap ho got a shot in the right shoulder. After this lie .made ,f°>’ the house. Three shots had so far been fired 1 at him. Before he got inside another shot was fired.

Witness was yelling out all the time with pain. He rushed into the house and went to the front room. Haeata was then outside on the verandah, and fired’ a shot through the window. A SHOT IN RETALIATION.

Witness then rushed for his own gun, a double-barrelled Remington. He returned to the passage to a door leading to a bedroom. While accused! was turning, witness up with his gun and fired at him. He did! not see accused till about ten minutes later. He then heard ..accused sing out, “Come on, Jim, let ns shake hands and bo friends.” He thought accused was only coaxing him to show himself, till he had another go at him. Accused went round one side of the house and then came back to the verandah. Ho came to the window and crawled through. Witness kept accused covered with his gun. Accused said to witness, “Are you safe?’.’ and witness replied, “Ye 6, I’m quite safe.” Witness passed his gun over to one of the girls. Accused asked witness to shoot him. Witness grabbed l accused by the arm, pushed him into the passage and on to the verandah.

Accused did not say why he had tried to shoot witness, and did' not make any reference to his wife. RELATIONS WITH WIFE.

Mr Noble : Didn’t you take his wife away?—No, he forced’ his wife into my hands.

Anci yet you asked! him to shake hands —les, we had been good friends all the time and had always shaken hands. Did liis wife force herself into your hands?—At first she did.

So.a, woman tempted you?—Yes. “Something like Adainl” remarked counsel.

How old’ are you?—About forty. How old is Mrs Haerata ? —Perhaps about 28; I don’t know.

Have you ever had! any trouble with any other man and! his wife?—Yes. Did that wife also' force herself on to you?—Yes. “You seem to be having a rough time with wives forcing themselves on to you,’.’ remarked 1 counsel. Mr Noble: When Haeata broke the •wind'ow was there anyone in the room? —Yes, we were all iii the room. The lamp, was burning. He did not tire. He was singing out to tlie girls to get out of the way. Accused' could not see them when he fired’ the last shot. /

Andf before he had time to fire any piore shots you fired at him? —Yes. Don’t you think he had d'one enough. He was walking up and l down tho verandah. EVIDENCE OF DAUGHTER.

Elizabeth Kenriek, daughter of Janies 1 Kenriek, said 1 she came to stay, with hoi* father at Black Rock station. Witness, her sister, her father *and Mrs Haeata all slept in the dining room on the' night of February 3. Witness was awakened by her father running through tho house looking for his gun. Haeata was then coming up on to the verandah. Witness’ father told 1 her to leave the house and! take her sister with her. Witness begged! Haeata to leave them alone, but ho continued! to shoot and l ono charge came down the passage. The women then- retired) to the dining room and Kenriek fired through the window at Haeata. The latter opened! the wind'ow and came in and implored Kenriek to shoot him. Witness could not give any reason for Haeata attempting to shoot her father.

To Mr Noble: My . father and 1 . Mrs Haeata, did not change their rooms when mv sister and I arrived 1 from Levin. I did! not actually see anv shooting except my father shooting at Haeata. Mary Kenriek, sister of the previous witness, gave corroborative evidence. 1 THE WARNING TO GO.

John Devine, constable at Masterton, detailed a trip to Black Rock. On arrival Haeata admitted! doing the shooting. Haeata told witness.that he walked lout to Black Rock, from Lansdowne on the Saturday night with the intention of killing Kenriek, as his (Haeata’s) wife was living with Kenriek. Haeata said: “I told) Kenriek that if he did not leave'the district I would 1 shoot him? Kenriek told me that lie would' not go ” Accused' said ho arrived' nt Black Roelc at 3 a.m., and fired! at Kenriek as lie was. leaving bin house. Kenriek ran hack and got bus gun and) shot nt. Haeata through tlio window. Witness accompanied 1 the two men to the hospital and assisted to undress them. Nine Eley cartridges were found on accused, and three cartridges of a different make were found. At the hospital accused frankly discussed the* matter. He gave witness w long statement of how ho had/ implored Kenriek to leave his .wife. Kenriek had’ refused, and! distracted by the loss of big wife’s affections, he set out for Black Rock intent on killing both his wife and' Kenriek.

To Mr Noble : .Haeata gave me the statement about 11.30 a.m. on the Sunday and was quite normal. T did not tell bim that anything he said would I 'bei used' as evidence against him as evidence for the prosecution.

After further evidence had lieen taken accused' reserved! .his defence, and was committed fen* trial.