CONFECTIONER FOR TRIAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23258, 20 July 1945, Page 4

CONFECTIONER FOR TRIAL

Charge Of Attempted Murder (N.Z.P.A.I HASTINGS, July 19. Arising out of a disturbance in the Carlton Club Hotel, Hastings, on June 20 lest, when a shot, was fired in a bedroom, James Percival Bear, confectionery manufacturer, aged 56, appeared before Mr J. Miller, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day on a charge of attempting to murdei Ronaldean Alice May Waymouth. He was committed to the Supreme Court, Napier, lor trial. Mrs Waymouth, who for the last three years has been employed as a waitress at the Carlton Club Hotel, said accused was a guest at the hotel for about six months. She had been on friendly terms with him for about 20 months. On June 16 she told accused it, would be best if they parted. On June 20 when she went to her room after work accused was there. He presented a gun at her and pulled the trigger, but. it did not fire. She scream-

ed and again accused pulled the trigger. The gun was not loaded. He told her he was only trying to frighten her. Accused then took a cartridge out of his pocket and put it into the gan, said witness. As he was doing this she grabbed the rifle, pulled the barrel down toward the floor and the gun went off. While she was struggling with accused on the floor Max Luttrell, son of the licensee, forced his way into the room.