MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17133, 21 June 1927, Page 11

MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING.

MAN NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE. STRANGE STORY TOLD. Shot through the chest, Frank Frederick Hayes (31), a salesman, was admitted to St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, in a critical condition. He is not expected to live. A few minutes later a man, who gave himself up to the police, was charged with shooting with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, lie was allowed out on bail. Detectives are investigating a story of an underworld vendetta connected with the shooting, which is one of the most mysterious cases of its kind they have handled.

The shooting occurred in Liverpool ptrect, near Grown Street, Darlinghurst. William George Lloyd, a tobacconist, of Grown Street, told the police the story of the affair. Ho scJid that he was standing outside his shop when a mail he knew drove past in a car. He whistled to him, and he swung the car round to pull up.

Just as he was coming to a standstill a man rushed on to the roadway and shouted something to the driver, at the same time waving what he (Lloyd) thought to he a razor. A second later he heard a report and saw a flash, and Hayes fell groaning in the gutter. A taxi driver set out in pursuit of a man who jumped into a limousine car and drove away. After getting near enough to the car to distinguisli the number the taxi driver drove back to the wounded man and picked him up. He took Hayes to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he was admitted. Ilis condition was so serious that his dying depositions could not be taken. A search for a man was begun by Detectives Keogh and Laurence and Sergeant Meagher, of Darlinghurst. A few hours later Detective-Ser-geant Miller, of Darlinghurst, was walking along Darlinghurst Road when a man walked up to him and said: “I believe you are looking for me, Miller, about the shooting.” Miller had not heard of the affair, but he took the man to the police station, where lie was charged.