AN AMAZING STORY

Southland Times, Issue 18833, 28 May 1920, Page 5

AN AMAZING STORY

THE WANGANUI SENSATION. A PLEA OF GUILTY. STARTLING CHARGE BY VICTIM OF SHOOTING. (Per United Press Association.) WANGANUI, May 27. At the Court this afternoon Charles Evan Mackay, for thirteen years Mayor of Wanganui, was charged with the attempted murder of Walter Darcy Cresswell, a returned soldier. The court-room was packed, the polios having to clear a passage to allow the witnesses to enter.

Dr Hutson, medical superintendent of the Wanganui Hospital, stated that on May 15 Walter Darcy Cresswell was admitted to the Hospital suffering from a wound in the right side of his chest. It was about on the level of the heart, hut on the oppo site side. The wound was obviously caused by a bullet. The bullet had not been located. The wound was a very small on? | Cresswell had been under the care of witness since his admission. As far as he anticipated there was no danger to Cresswell’s life at present, but he was not able to appear in Court to give evidence. The bullet had entered the lung but it might have gone right through. I To the Magistrate: During the first few hours Cress-well's condition »was srrious, but after the use of the usual restoratives his condition improved rapidly. Inspector Hendrey stated that on May 26 he received information that accused wished to see him at the gaol. Witness went, and there saw accused in the presence of Mr Treadwell. He then produced a statement that had been taken from Walter Darcy Cresswell at the Hospital. Witness handed the statement, to Mr Treadwell, and suggested that the latter, if he so desired, might permit accused to read it. At accused's request he (licensed I retired with Mr Treadwell, am! tome twenty minutes later returned to the mom anti informed witness that he had read the statement and mad-? the following endorsement : ‘T have read the above statement, and so far as it relates to my own act and deed I admit the statement to be substantially true.” Accused then signed and dated the statement, and at the suggestion of witness initialled each of the pages. Witness then produced the statement marie by Cresswell in Hospital, and read it. It was as follows ; “ I am a returned soldier, 24 years of age. and reside with my parents at Timaru, in (he .South Island. I have done no work since [ returned from the war. I came to Wanganui on Monday, the 10th inst., and met Maekay on that date. I met him at dinner at Chavannes’ Hotel with my cousin, at Mr Mackny’s invitation. Nothing abnormal happened while at dinner. I spoke to Maekay between the time I had dinner with him on Monday night and entering his office on Saturday morning, the loth inst. My cousin and myself went to the Hawcra races on Tuesday, the 11th inst., and returned to Wanganui the following evening. I met Maekay on Thursday and asked him to come to dinner at the Rutland Hotel that night with my cousin .and myself, Maekay kept the appointment, and we had dinner at the hotel. Nothing took place while we were at the hotel, and I had not said anything to Maekay that would offend him. On the Thursday evening Maekay invited me to go to the Art Gallery with him on the Friday afternoon. 1 accepted his invitation, as 1 wanted to know more about Mr Maekay. On the Friday afternoon about 4 p.m. I met Maekay at his office in Ridgway street. Then we went to the Wanganui Club in St. Hill street, and had a nip of tea. From there we went to the Art Gallery. We went to Maekay's office in Ridgway street, and while there 1 discovered a certain disgusting feature in Mackny’s character. He also showed me several photographs of nude women. I purposely encouraged him to display his qualities in his nature which I expected, on making that discovery. I told him that f had led him on on purpose to make sure of his dirty intentions, and I told him also, amongst a lot of other candid things, that he must resign the Mayoralty at once. He then pleaded for mercy and asked me to think over it for the night, and come and see him next morning and let him know liny decision. 1 stayed at the Rutland Hotel | on Friday night, as I was going to a dance |in the Druids’ Hail (hat evening. During the night I decided that he should resign the Mayoralty in a week’s time. At my suggestion and partly at my dictation Maekay wrote a letter to my cousin, and I saw it posted on Saturday mormng. As arranged, I called on him at DAO a m. at his office in Ridgway street on the Saturday morning, and the whole morning was spent hv him in plea-line with me on account of 1 his wife and family not to force him to resign. I. however, was route det-rmined that he should resign, even though he •direatened to commit I did not believe that he had the courage, and I did not believe him when hj? said that his wife was'dependent on the £2OO he got for being Mayor, I was very anxious to Ire .inst ami to do nothing cruel to his family. He told me that he was suffering from a complaint whirl) made it impossible for him to control his passions, and said that his doctor could satisfy me in that respect, lie rang mi the doctor on two or three occasions. but each -lime the doctor was out. After useless talking and long silences he asked me to come round to th° rlub and try and reconsider my decision over a cup of tea. As 1 could no* stand being it) his office much longer, and was .very knocked up. I consented am! we went round. Here he became very earnest about his decision to commit suicide, and the absolute impossibility of resigning the mayoralty. Nothing more happened here than had happened in his office, and he then pleaded with me to come hack to his office. I think that I wan very foolish not to have left him, hut I was anxious to he quite just to him, I should say here that I had promised to -ay nothing about what 1 had de-rovi red if he would resign at the end of the week. I did not want to .indge him, but I was determined he had no buffness to he mayor. Rack in his office again, and I, being very tired, took a more determined stand about it, and threatened that if he didn't immediately giro me a letter promising to resign at. (he end of the week I would at once wire to my dari in Tinmru to come up, as I fell that it was getting too much of a strain on me alone, lie seemed so terribly upset that I then extended the time to a fortnight, and he (hen implored me for a month's time, and spoke a lot about, his wife and family. I was quite firm about the fortnight, and he then asked for n few minutes alone to clear his head or something of the sort, and went in'o an anteroom where a girl worked. He was away

j a few minutes anti then camp back and I said, "Crps-swcll. give me a month and I 1 will sign a letter straight away.” At this I lime I was getting very tired, so 1 said, | “All right. 1 will give yon a month from 1 to-day," Then lie came over to his table | and wrote a letter promising to resign the mayoralty a month from that date, and put it into a large envelope. 'We then arranged that it should he addressed to me at the General Post Office and registered, and I promised to let it he at the post office until the month was np, so fie put it in his pocket and we walked toward the door marked A, Mr Mackay leading the way. Before reaching the door Maekay suddenly turned round, and I found that he had a revolver pointing at my chest. We were only a foot or two apart. I think that he said, “This is for you,” but I am not positive. Then he fired almost immediately, before I could recover from my amazement, and I felt the bullet enter my right breast and I fell down. He stood where he was and looked at me, and then came over and thrust the revolver into my right hand. Immediately I got the revolver I rose to my feet and kept him covered, file looked very surprised and wild, and then ran through the door marked B. I followed him. When I reached the door I found that it was either locked or else he was holding on to the handle. I did not wait to see, but ran into MgcKay’s office to the window facing Ridgway street, and threw a chair through it to bring assistance, and when I had smashed the window I called out to some chaps in the street to come up. Then evidently Mackay heard

my calls for help, and thinking that he couldn’t escape came back and asked me to shoot him, and then he rushed me and I kept the revolver pointed clear and pulled shots off. The next thing I can remember I was running down stairs telling someone that Mackay had shot me, and I' heard Maokay say over the stairs that he had shot me by accident. I don’t remember much more. I was wearing the clothes produced when shot.”

Colin Westcott Cameron, engineer, of Mangawhero, said that shortly before 1 o’clock on May 15 he was at Coull’s auction mart. He heard a shot fired in Mackay’s office. Following the shot he heard a crash, and a chair came through Mackay’s window and landed pavement. Witness saw Cresswell at the window. He sang out, "Help, I’ve been shot.” _ He then saw two men struggling. He now knew them to be Mackay and Cresswell. Witness heard four or five more shots fired. Witness ran up the stairs and met Cresswell on the landing with a revolver in his hand. Cresswell said, "Mr Mackay has shot me. Get a car and take me to a doctor.” Mackay appeared from behind Cresswell and said he had accidentally shot him while demonstrating an automatic revolver. Witness assisted Cresswell down the stairs. The latter said, “Mackay has shot me. Give my love to mother. I have discovered a scoundrel.” Accused stated that the shooting was accidental. Witness was present until the police arrived. Accused gave himself up and said he bad accidentally shot Cresswell.

George Sinclair Cameron, father of the previous witness, gave corroborative evidence. Witness wrote in a notebook the statements that Cresswell made. Cresswell said he believed he was dying. Witness said, “Surely you are not as bad as that.” Cresswell said, “Yes, I am going.” Mr Sykes said, “If you think that you are dying you had better tell us all you know.” Cresswell said, “I discovered a scandal and Mackay shot me.” He then fainted.

Sydney Sykes, Harbour Board employee, said he took the revolver from Cresswell and subsequently handed it to the police. On the way down stairs witness said to accused, “Good gracious, what has happened?” Accused replied, “1 was showing him my revolver and it accidentally went off and I shot him.” After the Ambulance went away with Cresswell witness went up stairs and saw accused. The latter said he was putting his papers away, and he put some it) the safe and locked it.

Charles 1.. White, a traveller, said his attention was attracted by a crash of glass. He then hoard two pistol shots in quick succession. He next saw Cresswell coming out of the floor of Mackay’s office. Witness heard accused remark that it was an accident. Cresswell replied promptly and clearly for one in his condition, "No it was not an accident. Itv us shot.”

Constable John McMtlllan said he was I called to Mackay’s office about 1 o’clock on the 15th inst. and found Cresswell lying at the foot of the stairs with Mr Sykes supporting his head. Accused was standing' on the stairs. Two or three other people were present. Witness asked Cresswell what had happened, was it an accident or not? Cresswell replied: "Get me a doctor.” Accused said: "Of course it was an accident and well he knows it was.” Accused said: "I give myself up, constable. I shot him.” Witness remarked; “This is an unfortunate occurrence, Mr Mackay,” and they went into his office. Witness asked how the window got broken. Accused said; "I was showing the young man my revolver when it accidentally went off and shot him. He then fell against the window and broke the glass.” Witness said; "How did the chair get outside?” Accused replied: ‘‘What chair?” Witness then told accused to lock up liis office and come to the police station. Const able David V\ ilsnn said (hat when be went to the scene accused said : ‘T shot him, Dave. I give myself up.” At I lie stone time accused handed him an automatic revolver. Witness went up to accused’s nfice to ring up for a doctor. Accused’s chair, with a high hack, was lying on the floor and (he window was broken. Senior-Sergeant T. Bourko said (bat accused was brought to the police station by Sergeant Reid. Accused said: "Sergeant, I have shot a young man through the chest and I believe be will die. When the Prince was here 1 was carrying an automatic revolver. I was showing it to the young man Cresswell and demonstrating it when it accidentally went off and shot him.” Witness next said : "I have abundant evidence of a serious disturbance in your office before the shots were heard. A chair was thrown through the window on to the street.” Accused said: “Who can give that evidence';" Witness replied: "The earners on the stand across the street.’’ Accused replied: "My God.” He did not refer to it again. Witness charged accused with the attempted myrder of young Cresswell. Accused replied: "I understand, Sergeant.” After accused was searched witness search'd his office and in the right hand drawer of the table he found five photographs of nude women. A careful search was made for a letter which witness had been told had been written Jty Mackay resigning the Mayoralty, but he could not find it. Wit ness located four revolver shells, two on Ihe right-hand side of Mackey's chair, one at the back of some books and one at the hack of a roll top desk on the other side of the room. The shells fitted the revolver. One pellet went through the wall, another in some books anti a third was located in the lining of the wall.

Mr Treadwell : DM he say how long lie carried the revolver? Witness: He said that lie carried it during the Prince's visit. When asked to plead, accused, who was standing wit It his arms folded, said quietly and distinctly: “I plead guilty.” Accused was committed to the Supreme Court at Wanganui for sentence.