“CROSSED IN LOVE.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16571, 2 November 1921, Page 7

“CROSSED IN LOVE.”

! AN ECCENTRIC YOUNG MAN. ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SHOOTING. A most unusual story of eccentric conduct on the part of a jealous lover was unfolded in the Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr Wyvern Wilson. S.M., when Oscar Trice, twentysix years of age, was charged with having attempted to discharge a loaded g*nn at Albert Newton and Annie Duncan, at Kaituna on October 22, with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Mr E. W. White represented the accused and Sub-Inspector J. K. Simpson conducted the prosecution. Albert William Newton, a dairyman, residing at Kaituna, said the accused was in his employ and he had known him for twelve years. Witness also em_ ployed a young woman named Annie Duncan. The accused came out from Burnham School twelve years ago and had been a thorough worker. Three years ago he went to work on a station near Rangiora and returned to witness’s employ about six months ago. Witness had always known that the accused was mentally deficient. While at M Cracken’s station the accused became engaged to the girl Duncan and when lie returned to witness’s farm he asked if she could come for a. holiday and eventually she entered his service. Witness first discovered tliq accused to be peculiar about five weeks ago. He became very jealous of everyone around the farm. On Monday, October 17, two electricians came to the door to wile the house. Miss Duncan opened the door. The accused was having his breakfast at the time and he then rose ancl went- out to the cowshed. Witness walked through the house to show the electricians what to do and then went outside and heard Miss Duncan sere a ming. He ran down to the shed and saw her on accused’s arm hanging on to a saw bench. When accused saw witness coming he let her go and came towards witness saying Jib was having a huge joke with the girl. He had told her he would drown her and witness told him to go about his business and not be so foolish. The girl would not tell witness anything; she seemed too frightened to speak. Witness did not take the matter seriously at the time. About two hours afterwards accused came to witness and asked which was the best wav to commit suicide. Witness said ‘“Don’t be stupid, but go about your work.” On Saturday, October 22, nothing particular took place until eight o’clock in the evening. At- that time witness was sitting at the table with Miss Duncan. He looked up and saw the accused with the gun levelled at Miss Duncan’s head. 1 he accused was about six or seven feet away from her, standing just at the door. He was holding the gun in a shooting position. He said, “ Now gentlemen, hands up.” Witness jumped off the chair and grabbed the sun with both hands, wrenching it from him. Accused trrned and fled. The gun produced was the one used by accused. It. was the property of witness and during that week it had been placed in witness’s room by Miss Duncan. Witness opened the breach and found two cartridges in it similar to those produced. The right trigger was down and the cap of the cartridge on that side was dented. Witness did not hear any sound of the hammer of tho gun being pressed down. Sub-Inspector Simpson : Did the accused ever go out shooting with tho gun? Witness: He was too frightened to use it. After taking the gun away, witness rang up the police and at abeftit 10.15 p.m. Con stable Whatman arrived. Accused said, “Is that you Mr Wliat- ; man; I’ve been expecting you? I wish to apologise for what I’ve done tonight.” He then said “ Are you there, Mr Newton and Miss Duncan? Will you shake hands with me, for I am sorry for -what I have done? T did not intend to shoot you ; only to make you put your hands up while I shot myself.” Witness could not remember if accused said anything about a ring. At that time witness left the constable and the accused together. Witness handed the gun to Constable Whatman, also the two cartridges. Sub-Inspector Simpson: Had he ever expressed any intention to you previously about shooting himself ? Witness: He had not spoken about shooting himself, hut spoke about committing suicide. f . Mr White: Did you really seriously think that he did intend to shoot either of you ? Witness: By the look of his eyes I believed he intended to shoot. Mr White: What was he in Burnham for? Witness: I couldn't say. He came to me from the institution. He had always called witness father, and they had got on remarkably well together during the whole- of the twelve years. Annie Duncan said she had known the accused for two years, having first met him at Hay lands station. About a year ago she became engaged to the accused, and the engagement was broken off on the Wednesday before October 22. Witness broke it off because of accused',s jealous disposition and because he had used obscene language. When witness broke it off, he used very bad language and threatened to put a charge of lead into her. He asked her to come out for ten minutes | after tea. and she said, “No: you’ll shoot mo.” He said, “ Bring Mr Fenton with you. and I’ll shoot tlie two of you.” They left it at that that evening The next morning lie began “picking” at her, hut she took no notice of him. On the Friday he went out “picking” at her just the same. Ou Saturday she asked accused to post two letters for her, but he didn't do so. On Monday, October 17, two electricians came to the house, and the accused remarked that she was “ on ” with the electricians. Witness replied that she was not, and accused then began to quarrel, and threatened to throw her into the river. Witness ran away from him into tho engine room, l but lie followed her and caught her in his arms. Witness began to call out for Mr Newton, and lie arrived in a few minutes. On Saturday, October 22, accused was very pleasant to her when he came hack from the mail at about ten o’clock. He was still very pleasant at milking time. When wit-* ness and Mr Newton were sitting at tea at about eight o’clock, she looked round and saw accused with the gun to his shoulder and his finger on the trigger, pointing it at her. He said : i “Now. hands up, gentlemen; the game’s up." The barrel of the gun | was about six inches from her shoulder. ! Mr Newton rushed to get tho gun, and | accused covered him with the gun, but Mr Newton managed to get it. The accused jumped the fence-and ran down the road. Constable VY. T. Whatman, stationed at Little River, gave evidence. The accused admitted that he had pointed the gun at Mr Newton and Miss Duncan, but did not intend to shoot them. He said he had done it just to frighten Miss Duncan into taking the ring back, and he would then have shot himself. Witness arrested the accused as being of unsound mind, and brought him in to the Christchurch Police Station. Witness received the gun from Mr Newton, and also two cartridges (produced). The accused said he had

obtained the cartridges from Mr Parkinson’s shed. Constable J. Smyth gave evidence of having arrested the accused. The accused pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. H© was committed to the Supreme Court for trial at the criminal sessions next February. Bail was not applied for.