Shooting Affair.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue II, 9 January 1904, Page 52

Shooting Affair.

SENSATIONAL OCCURRENCE IN CUSTOMS STREET. At noon on December 31st a sensation was caused in Custom street East, Auckland, by a strange shooting affair, the motive of which is wrapped in mystery. Outside the Britomart Hotel an elderly man known as Jimmy Scanlan was standing on the footpath when, it is alleged, a man named Walter Bracewell rushed out from the hotel, and. holding a pistol close to Scanlan’s face, shot him through the jaw. The bullet appears to have gone out again through the mouth. It is alleged that Bracewell then ran away to a lane close by and shot himself. Policemen and doctors were hurriedly summoned, and both men were carried into the hotel. They were here attended by Drs. Bull and Porter, and taken away to the Auckland Hospital in a cab. Bracewell’s wound was only skin deep, the bullet having grazed the right side of the forehead without entering. But on the other side of the forehead there was the mark of a bldw inflicted apparently by a fist or through a fall. Bracewell was stunned, but Scanlan remained quite conscious, and expressed the opinion that he had swallowed the bullet. Bracewell, who is an engine-driver by trade, and until seven months ago in the employ of the Railway Department, is

a man led man living in Ireland-stroet, l‘onsoiJ>y. When arrested he made no remark. : ring dazed by the bullet wound apparei ily. He was asked for his revolver, and he said: “I haven t got it. The other man's got it. Take me inside. Please wipe the blood off my face.” When ho was taken to the hospital, and somewhat recovered his senses, he seemed to be totally ignoVant of what had happened. He said he believed that somebody had hit him, and he knew noth'ng of the matter that had caused such a sensation. The victim of the affair. Scanlan, said that he was leaning qvi ■(!;. and inoffensively against the wall of the hotel, when Bracewell came out and s]M>ke something to him —he didn’t remember what —and I ben deliberately pointing the revolver at him fired. He did not know the man, and had never seen him before, nor did he speak to him on this occasion. He bad done nothing to provoke the attack. Nothing seems to show a motive for the shooting of Scanlan. It is probable, ns Bracewell had been out of work for soirc time, the fact had preyed nil Lis mind, and be was not altogether responsible for his actions. The affair created a great sensation, and a big crowd gathered round the hotel in a few seconds, and hung about it till the men had been removed to (ho hospital. The latest bulletins from the hospital state that both men are fairly well, and no dangerous symptoms are visible.