THE GANNON CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16512, 24 August 1921, Page 7

THE GANNON CASE.

A CHARGE REDUCED. NOMINAL PENALTY IMPOSED. At the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr S. 3D. M’Carthy, S.M., W illiam Cannon was charged on Remand with the attempted murder of his wife. Ruby Cannon, on August 15; also that he carried a pistol beyond the limits of his dwellinghouse without a permit; that he presented u pistol at one Ruby Cannon without sufficient and lawful purpose, and that he wilfully damaged one cell can valued at 255, the property of the New- Zealand Government. Acting-Detective Joyce said that in company with a mate, Cannon had been drinking around the town on the date in question, after which he went home. On meeting his wife there he had “-words with her.” Mrs Cannon then proceeded to the home of a friend named Gallerher, and Cannon, who was under the influence of drink, went into his own house. Taking a pistol he said to liis mate, named Jensen, that he was going along to frighten his wife. When he reached Mrs Gallerher’s he entered the .kitchen and pointed the firearm at his wife. Had ho wished to do her any harm he could have done so. As he pointed the pistol towards his wife two of Mrs Gallerher’s sons closed in on Cannon and in the struggle the pistol was discharged. the bullet going through a wall. He asked for the Magistrate’s permission to withdraw the charge of attempted murder, w-hicii he was afraid could not be proved. The Magistrate granted the request under the circumstances. Mr F. D. Sargent, who appeared on behalf of Cannon, said that it was the first time that Cannon had appeared in Court in any capacity, and lie bore an excellent character, as would be testified by many prominent Lyttelton residents. Ho was a hard working man and had served three years at the war. Ho had also been gassed. It was very likely that it took very little drink to affect him in a way which caused him to do wliat he did. He had quarrelled with his wife because lie objected to visiting certain of her friends, and on the evening in question, about six o’clock, when he went home, his wife left to go to Mrs Gallerher's house. He took the pistol, which ho did not know was loaded at the time, -with the intention of frightening his -wife. The pistol in question, a war trophy, was registered. He washed to point out that Cannon had bought a house which was in his wife's name only. If a fine was inflicted the wife would be the one to suffer most. The affair had occurred through drink, and in view that Cannon had asked that a jiroliibition order be taken out against him, he wished to suggest that the Bench might see its way clear to bring him up for sentence when called upon. The accused had spent days in prison already, and keenly felt his position. The Magistrate said that the habit of pointing firearms at people should be stopped. No doubt in the present case Cannon, who had been to the war, had got into the habit. He would under the circumstances adjourn sentence sine die. The pistol would be taken charge of by the police, but in view of the fact that it was a war trophy Cannon could make an application to the Court- when he wished to have it returned. He would have to pay the value of the cell ran damaged.