THE ALLEGED SHOOTING WITH INTENT AT THE CHRISTCHURCH ROAD.

Westport Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1969, 24 January 1882, Page 4

THE ALLEGED SHOOTING WITH INTENT AT THE CHRISTCHURCH ROAD.

As many of our readers have expressed a desire to know the particulars of tbo charge against Edward Haylock (who was for mauy years a resident on the Addison's road) we reprint from the Kumara Times portion of the evidence takeu at the trial:— On the 11th instant, Edward Haylock, of Kawhaka, was charged with unlawfully and maliciously shooting at Andrew Curie with a double-barrelled gun, with intent to commit murder, at or near Harris's accommodation Louse on the Christchurch road. Andrew Curie said : I am a sheep drover, residing at Papanui, Christchurch. I know the accused. J. saw bim on the night of the t)th January. instant, about teu o'clock, at Harris's accommodation house, on the Christchurch road. 1 was in the front room, and beard a horse approaching the bouse. 1 heard ths accused inquiring tor me —if I was inside; the words bo used were—" Is Curie inside ?" I went out by the back door. When I got outside, 1 was quite near the accused, who was at tha front door when 1 left the room. 1 turned quick round the corner of the bouse. While doing so the report of a gun was close behind. Someone remonstrated ■with the accused, and I then iieard the accused say that he would shoot me. When 1 beard him say so I was in the scrub close to the house, ten or twelve yards away. I could see the accused from where I was standing; he had a double-barrelled gun. There was previously some ill-. feeling between us; this was about two months ago. In answer to the accused, witness stated : It was dark, though there was dull moonlight. I saw the horse's head only coming rouud the corner of the house. I made no remarks in reference to your family affairs that day at the Arahura. I heard some remarks made. I know the cause which gave rise to this ill-feeling between us. I have told you on a certain occasion that I held you and your family in great respect, and that you had always acted iu a gentlemanly manner towards me. I stayed frequently at your house. 1 did tell you when J wanted to take your daughters out that I would treat them honorably and respectfully, take every care of them, and you might safely entrust them with me, as with my own sisters. 1

asked your permission on several oc casions for your daughters to go out with me. By the Court : The accused discharged a gun. I did not see the accused point a gun at me. My back was turned towards the accused because I was getting away from him. I had reason to believe that the accused meant to do me bodily harm. After the above evidence was taken, the Court adjourned, and upon reassembling on the following Friday Curie's evidence was continued : Harris's accommodation house is about 7 miles from Kumara, aud about 19 or 20 from Hokitika, I gave eri dence on the 11th instant in this case. I saw the gun in the accused's hands. I tried to escape from the accused. He fired only one shot at me I did not see him tire the shot. lam certain I saw a gnu in his hands. Prior to this occasion the pri:-oncr made threats of violence against me. The words he used then were that he would shoot me aud that he would cut me up. These threats were made use of two months ago. I gave no provocation when he used those threats. On the 9th of January last I was afraid to pass prisoner's house. I had seeu prisoner previous to oth of January, with a gun in his hand. By Mr Purkiss: When prisoner came to the front door aud asked for me, I weut out the back, and from there I went to the bush. I did not hear the whistling of any bullet or shot passing me. I saw no one at the back door but Mrs Harris with a candlo in her hand. The evidence of four other witnesses was taken, but nothing material was elicited, further than corroboration of the circumstances of the shooting ao related by Curie. Accused was on horseback when the shot was fired, aud the opinion of some of the witnesses was that the guu was pointed too high to hit Curie. Upon the conclusion of the evi dence for the prosecution, the Court adjourned for an hour, Mr t'urkiss stating that he would probably call witnesses for the defence after the adjournment. When the Court resumed Mr Purkiss did not call any witnesses. but addressed the Bench at some length on behalf of prisoner. The Justices (Messrs O'Hagan and Campbeii) after retiring for a few minutes, dismissed the charge, stating that in the opinion of the Bench, a pvima facie case of intent to do murder bad not been established.