WANGANUI SENSATION

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3498, 28 May 1920, Page 5

WANGANUI SENSATION

CHARGE OF 'ATTEMPTED MURDER

C. E. MACKAY PLEADS GUILTY.

I At thé Magish-a.te’s Court yesterday ‘afternoon, before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S_M., Charles Evan Mackay was Icharged with atempting to murder Walter Darcy Cresswell, a young returned soldier on May 15th. Great public interest was evinced in the proceedings, me portion 01' the Courtroom reserved for the.publi-ehbe‘-ing crowded immediately the doors were opened. _

Mr C. C. Hutson conducted the case for the police, and Mr W. J. Treadwell appeared for the accused. Dr Herbert Hufson, medical superintendent of the Wanganui Hospital, said Cl-essiwell was admitted suffering from a Wound in the right side of the chest about level with the heart and on the opposite side. The wound was obviously caused by a bullet, which had not yet been located. As far as witness could anticipate at the pres ent time, Cresswell’s life was not in danger, but he could not appear to give evidence. The bullet -had entered one lung and had probably gone right through. His Worship: Was he ever in L!an'.r~r since admission.

Witness: For the first few hours his condition was serious, but'after the * usual restoratives he improved rapidly_ } Inspector C. W’. Hendrey said on the 26th inst. he received information that ‘accused wished to see him at the gao]. Witness went there and in company with Mr Treadwell saw accused. Witness produced a statement made by Cresswell and handed it to Mr Treadwell so that accused might read it. At. aecusedfs request witness allowed him to retire with Mr Treadwell. Onreturning accused affirmed that the statement as it related to his action was substantially true.- -

Inspector Hendry'then' read the I'ol- - statement made by Cresswell:

I am a returned soldier, 24. years or age, and reside with my parents at Tirnaru, in the South -Island. I have done ~no work since I returned from the war. -1 ‘came’ to Wanganui on Monday, the10th inst., "and ‘met Ml-.Mackay on that date. I met him at dinner at Chavan-~ Ines Hotel, with my cousin, at Mr Mac-' ,ka'y’s invitation_ Nothing abnormal happened while at dinner. I spoke to lMr_Mack_ay_b,etw_een the ,time.l had ‘dinner. with h_im,_on Monday night and entering _his oflice on Saturday morn‘ig, the 15ts inst. _ My cousin and myself wentto the Hawera races on ’T«ue.s.day, the 11th inst.,_. and returned Ito, -Wanganui the following evening. I lnret Mr Mackay on Thursday and asked him tocome to dinner at the .Rut—laud Hotel that night with my cousin and myself. Mr Mackay kept the appointment and we had dinner at the hotel. Nothing took place while we wfere at the hotel, and I had not’ said anything "to Mr Mackay that would oflfendhim. On the Thursday evening Mr Mackay invited me to go to the Art ‘Gallery with him on the Friday afternoon. I accepted his invit-ation, as I wanted to know more about Mr Mackay. On the Friday afternoon about 4 pm. I met. Mr Mackay at his office in Ridgway Street. ‘ Then we went to the Wanganui Club in St_ Hill Street and -had a cup of tea. From there we went to the Art Gallery. Mr Mackay unlocked~the door as he had the keys, and then we had a look through the building. A When we left the ‘Art Gallery we went to Mr Mac'kay’s ofl-ice in Ridgway Strtet, and ,while there I discovered a certain dislgusting feature in Mr Ma’cka._v’s charEacter. He also showed me several ,photogi-aphg of nude women. I purjposely encouraged him to display these iqualities of his nature which I ex’pected,‘ On making that discovery I told hinrthat 1' 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 my decision. I stayed at the Rutland Hotel on Friday night, as I was going to a daoce in the Druids’ Hall that 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, I Mackay wrote a letter to my cousin,i andl saw it posted on Saturday morning. As arranged, I called on him at! 9.30 a_m. at his office in Ridgzwayj Street on the Saturday morning, and the whole morning was spent by him in pleading with me on accout of his; wife and family, and not to force him 1 to resign. I,- however, was quite determined that he should resign, even though he threatened to commit suicide; I did not believe he had the courage, and I did not believe him When he said that his wife was dependent on the £2OO he got for being Mayor. I was very anxious to be just and do nothing cruel to his family. He told me that he was suffering from a complaint ‘which made it impossiblefior him to control his passions, and! said that his doctor could satisfy me

[ ‘in that respect. 1-le rang up his doc~ lie.‘ on two or three occasions, but each l_rlnie the doctor was out. After‘ use- ’. less talking and long silences he asked me to come rcunu E 0 the Club and tr}; and reconsider my decision over at cup }of tea. As_l could not stand being in ' nis omce much longer and was very a knocked up, 1 consented, and we E I went rounu. Here ,he became very farnest about his decision to cour‘innit suicide, and the absolute innp-cssroiiiry of resigning the MayL oraity. Nothing more happened ’lnere than had happened in his oiiice, ' and he then pleaded with nle to come i !‘back to his oflicc. I think that I was very foolish not to have left. him, but ‘l I was anxious to be quite just to him. " I should say here that I had promised _ to say nothing about wh-.i.t I had dis= "covered if he would resign at the end ' of the week. 1 did not want ~t_o judge 7 him, but I was determined he had no *lbusiness to be Mayor. Bee}; in his ‘luflicc ag:~.i11; and I, being very tired, ‘took a. more determined stand about it; and threatened that if he didn’t ‘ immediately. resign at the end of the ‘ week I would at once wire to my dad - in Tllll‘dl'll to corne'up, as I felt that it was getting too much of :1 strain on me. alone. He'seenled so terribly upset that I extended the time to a fortnight, and he then asked for a. few minutes alone to clear his head or solrle'thing of the sort, and went into the ante-room, where the girl work-; ed. He was away a ‘few minutes, and‘? then came back and said, “Cresswell,j give me a nlonth, and I will sign a ‘letter straight. away.” At this dime‘ I was getting very tired, so I said, “All right, I will give you a month, from today.” Then he came over to his table and wrote a letter promising! to resign the M-a_voralt_v a month from that date, and put it into a large envelope. We then arranged that it should be addressed to me at the General Post Oflicc and registered, and I 'promised'to let’ it lie at the Posm [Oflice till the month was up, so he put it in his pocket, and we walked towards the door, marked A, Mr Mackay leading the way. Before reaching the door, M.-r Mackay suddenly turned ro'und‘,‘and I found he had a revolver pointed at my chest. We were only, afoot or two; apart. I think tliatl he said: -“Thisis for-_ you,” but I am {not positive. Then he fired almost «immediately before I’ could greqover from my amazement, and I felt the bullet enter my right. breast, and I lfell down. He stood where he wast and looked at me, and then came overi F and thrust the revolver into my right U ;hand’. Immediately I got the revoljver I rose to my feet and kept him icovcrcd. He looked very surprised jahd wild, and then ran through the ‘_ door, marked B. I followed him, and L when_l reached the door I found that; lit was either locked or else he was] .holding on to the handle.‘ I did not lwait to see, but ran into Mr Mackay’s ofiice to the window facing Ridgwny l Stre'et_; and tlirew a chair through it to I ‘bring assistance_;‘‘ and when I had? ‘,smas'hed~tlle windofi', I called out to tsome" chaps in the street to come up.l Then, evidently,‘ Mr Mgiékay, henringl my calls for help, and ‘thinking that he couldnt’ escape, came back, and asked me to shoot him. And then he rushed me, and I kept the revolver I pointed clear and pulled the shots off.‘ [The next‘ thing I can remember was :running down the stairs and telling isomeone. that Ma.ck”ay had shot me, ‘and I heard Macliay say over the ’stairs that he had shot me by accid-l . ent. I don’t I'cnlefffi)er much ‘more. I was wearing the clothes producecl shot. Colin Wcste.ot.l: Cameron. engineer, Mangawhero, said that shortly before 1 o’.clock on May 15 he was at Coull’s auction mart. He heard :1. shot fired in Mr Mackay’s oiiicc. Following the shot he heard -.1 crash and a. chair came 1 through Mlacl<ay’s window and landed on the pavenicnt. VVitness saw C‘-ress—-well at the window. He sang out: -. “Help, I’vc been 51i0"6.” He then . saw two men struggling. He now - know them to be Mackay and Cress- . well. Witness heard four or .five more ; shots fired." Witness ran up the ; stairs and met Crcsswell on the land j ing with a revolver in his hand. ‘. Cresswell said: “Mr Mackay has shot -. me. Get a car and take me to the doctor.” Mackny appeared from behind Cresswell ‘and said he ‘had acci— 1 dentally shot him while demonstrating 1 an automatic revolver. Witness as—,] sistcd Cresswell down the stairs. The », latter said: “Mnckay has shot mc.l, Give my love ‘to mother. I have dis'- ll covered a scandal.” Accused rcpea_t- 1 ed that the shooting was accidental.L Witness was present until the police 5 arrived. Accused gave himself up and 1 said he had. accidentally shot Crcss- 1 well. (~ George Sillcla.ir Ca.me.ron,' father of C The PT9ViollS'Witness, gave corroborative evidence.

Sydney Sykes, a Ha.rbour Board employee, said he took‘ the 1-ovdlver from Cress-well and subsequently handed it to the police. On the Way down the stairs witness. said to accused: “Goodl gracious, What has happened.” Accused replied: “I was showing him my revolver and it a.eeidenfnl]_x? went‘ off and shot him.” 4 I Constable Jo'h'n McMulla.n said he

was called to Mackay’s office about 1 O’(:1OCk on the 15th inst., and found Cl-esswell lying at the foot of" the stairs. ’l"'.vo or three other people were present. Witness asked Cresswell what had. happened: was it an ac__eident or not? C.l'(.‘SSWell replied: “Get me a. doctor.” Accused said: “Of course it was an accident and well he knows it w,_:}s.” Accused said: “I give myself: up, constable. I shot. him.” Witness remarked: “This is an u_nfortunat.e occurrence, Mr Mackay,” and they Went into his oflice. 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 l‘(?1)ll.C(l2 “What chair?” Witness then told accused to lock up his office and come to the POSOB Station. C‘-onstable David Wilson said when he went to the scene" aeéused said: “I shot him Dave. I give myself up.” At the same time accused handed him an automatic revolver. \\’itness went up to the accused"s oflice to ring for a. doctor. A.ccusetl’s chair with a high back was lying‘ on the floor. He saw Broken glass on the floor and" the wiridow broken.

Sen:-.—Sergt. T. Bourke said accused {was brought to ‘the Police -Station by Sedgt. Reid. Accused said: “Sergeant, I have shot. a young men -through the chest, and I believe he will die. When ’the Prince was here I was carrying [an automa'tic revolver. I was showl ing it to the young man Cresswell and demonstrating it when it accidentally went off and shot him.” Witness next said: “Ivhave abundant evidence of a. serious disturbance in your oflice before the shots were heard. A chair was thrown. through the window on‘ to the street.” Accused said: “Who can give their evidence?” Witness replied: “The carriers on the stand across the street.”' Acqused refflied: “My God!” He did not refer to it again. Witness "charged accused. with e.tt:empte<l murder of-. §?'oung Cresswell. Accused replied: “I” understand, Sergean'f'."’ " A-ffer» ac'cuse_d was ‘xsea-rched witness searched‘ -his omjiice and-invthe righAt"'han‘dv drawver" of’r.the. table he found fii*e‘=-"photographs vhf‘ "nude “women. A 3 careful search ..w‘as:-made for] :1 letter which Witness haid been told had been written Joy‘ Mackay. resigning the Mayoralty, but he could not finsl it.- Witness located. four revolver sliells, two or the right hand side of‘ Mackay’s chair, one at the back ofi some books, and one at the hack of‘ a roll top desk on the other side of the room. The shells fittcdllthe "revel-1 ver. One pellet ‘_went through the‘ wall, another in some books,’ and the third was located in the lining of thel wall. T ’ I

Mt Treadwellz Did he say how long he carried the revolver? Witness: He said ‘that he carried it during the Pl'i‘nvte’s visit. When asked to plbad accused, who was standing \\'it'h‘?‘>llis a.l'lns folrlcd, said quietly and disfincfly: “I plead gni’lt’v;" V ' ' V ‘ '-

Ar':r:llserl was ‘committed to the ‘Ru-' preme V(‘o'ur't nf Wan:ginllli -{for sontence. ‘ ' A ‘

' ACCUSED BEFORE supneme i COURT. K SENTENCED TO FIFTEEN YEARS’ HARD LABOUR. [ __.._._ WANGANUI, This Day_ Charles Lvau Mackay, who pleaded guilty, was before the Supreme Court this morning. ' Mr Treadwell, who appeared for accused stated it was his duty to exonerate the young man Cressw'ell, who was shot by Mackay, from any blame ‘whatever. Mr Treadwell said he mzule ’ this staement with the full“approval of I-accused. Cresswell’s action thro~.l.=;h----foul: must meet with the commendation }of all *l-iglit-thinking men. Mr Tl‘o-ad-§well said he thought the reason accused, a man of scholastic attainments, a. member of an honourable profession, and who, until recently. occupied the highest .position his I‘;e]low-citizens, could bestow, had got into the present 1 position was that he was suffering from homosexual monomania. 4 Sir R. Stout referred to Macka_v’s§ past cm-eel'_ which had been '.'er’j7] bright, and while he would exercise his powers of mercy and leniency, he pointed out accused was charged with attempting to take the life of a human being. The ideal of justice was“ that human life must. he kept sacred,‘ and if in any community this ideal was I slackeiied the commuil-y would soon become non-existent. His Honour had hopes yet that Mackay would redeem himself. He had taken the first step in pleading guilty. He would be sentenced to fifteen Years’ hard labour.