A Sensational Affair.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8622, 29 March 1897, Page 2

A Sensational Affair.

SHOOTING OF A MAN IN POLLEN STREET.

A rather sensational affair occurred in Pollen street on Saturday night at

about 11.15 o'clock. Samuel Agnew, a well-known resident of the Thames, spent; most of the 1 evening in the Academy of Music

seeing the Pollard's Cpera Company produce the opera " H.M.S. Pinafore." At its conclusion he started to wend his way towards Shortland, but when reaching the corner of Queen and Cochrane streets he was attracted by the shooting gallery open there, and in a moment he decided to try his skill with a saloon rifle - After he had done so and had again made, a start for home he was accosted by a young man whose face and name were unfamiliar to him, but who since has been ascertained to be one George Osborne, a son of parents well known in the Bay of Islands. The then stranger commenced talking to him, and as he seemed journeying in the same direction the two commenced a conversation carried on principally by Osborne, who contended that the local shooting galleries charged too much per shot as the cost was infinitesimal compared with the 'sixpence which, he said, patrons had to pay. The remarks then turned on shooting generally, and it came out presently that Osborne had a revolver in his possession. He handed the weapon (a six chambered one) to Agnew when they were a little

way up the street and on the Jaiter asking if it was loaded Osborue replied " No." Agnew, who says he is very careful with firearms, seems to have cocked the weapon and letting the hammer down very gently handed it back to its owner. Agnew and Osborne had made their way by this time well up Pollen street and it was when opposite Valler aud Thornton's, fruiterers' shop that Osborne turning round displayed the instrument, while at the same moment there was a click, a report and the other raau felt that he was shot. A few people who were standing round immediately rushed up, and directly Agnew was found to be bleeding he was carried into the fruiterer's shop. The police were soon summoned and after hearingsorae of the circumstances I while the injured man proceeded to the i Hospital, the shootist was arrested by ! Constable Miller (who was near at hand) and taken to the Police station. I ■ With reference to the injured man., Ue was examined by Dr W illiaics and ) found to have been wounded about the ' left groin, a bullet having passed j through his braces and shirts, appar- \ eutly lodging well within the locality j mentioned, but fortunately not causing j the loss of much blood. The man ( passed a fairly good night, and was, both before and following his going to sleep, Interrogated, when he averred that whatever was done to him was done wilfully, but it may be said that Osborue stoutly denies that he had any wilful intention in the matter. However, referring to Osborne. we may say he took things very coolly, and said he was not aware when he handed the arm to Agnew that it w«j loaded, and he has since added he was of opinion that the revolver was harmless when he handed it to Agnew. Later at the police station Osborne stated he had purchased the revolver that day (Saturday), that he had beeu shooting at a mark in the afternoon, «ud that he intended to dinnage eats at Parawai with it. Ou being searched he ■ was found to have two loose cure- 1 ridges iv his pocket, and there is no , doubt be shot off nearly a box (twenty.

five) during the day. Yesterday Osborne took matters very coollj£ and in fact did not aeem to realise the gravity of his position. The sufferer last night was reported to be in a bad, although nob in an actually dangerous condition. .