CHARGE OF MURDER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1721, 11 April 1913, Page 6

CHARGE OF MURDER.

AGAINST A BOY. WHANGAREI SHOOTING AFFAIR 'By T«leurax>li.—Press Ajeocintlon.) Whanoarei, April 10. lhe Coroner's jury iu tile shooting case in which the boy George Fyfe, 32 years of age, met his death on Sunday by a peanflo shot returned a verdict that Edwin Augustus Sheclian, 15V years of a"c wilfully fired the riilo at Fyfe. A charge of wiltiil murder has beeii brought against Sheehan. "I WILL DEILL A HOLE THROUGH YOU." -Lhe following account of the occurrenco appeared in the Auckland "Herald" on April 8:— On the morning of April 6, Sheehan,' J-'yte, and another boy named John Reilly wc.nt out on a shooting excursion, and at two oi clock they were in the vicinity of Mr. l'yfcs-house, when they were joined by ono of Fyfe's sisters. • -ft-is said-that George Fyfe threw something at Sheehan, whereupon the latter called out, "I w'ill drill a hole through you, at the same time presenting his pea-rifle, at young Fyfe,: who took shelter behind a chestnut tree some 25 yards The others called out, "Don't shoot i n i'. ? Reilly simultaneously rushoil at Sheehan'and tried to seize the weapon. At this moment Fyfe stepped into the open, and Sheehan, it is said, immediately shot him. The injured boy, who was struck by tho bullet beneath the heart, tlieit ran forward towards his sister, and collapsed at her feet. Thp boys, assisted by Sheehan, carried Fyfe to his parents' residence close by, and tliev immediately had tho injured lad remove'd to the Wliangarci Hospital.' Thetp it was fouml that he was in a most critical condition, as the bullet, after entering the body'below the heart, had traversed the chest and lodged in his abdomen. The police were then communicated with, and Sheehan was arrested and brought to the hospital, where Fyfe's depositions wore recorded in .the presence of Mr. ,T. D. Jl'Kenzie, J,p. Sheehan .appeared before Messrs. -.7; M'Kinnon, J.P., and H. W, Briggs, .T.P., at the Magistrate's Court on April 7. when a charge of attempted wilful murder was preferred against him. The account, given by Sergeant Moore was that , while the party of bovs were playing, young Fyfe threw something at Sheehan, who .lifted his pea-rifle and said: "I'll put a hole through you." Fyfe jumped behind a tree, and the other boys endeavoured to take the weapon from Shcehan's hands. Imagining, apparently, that the pther boy had been disarmed, Fyfo re«ppeiired, and' Sheehan, levelling tho rifle, fired directly at him. The boy I fell,'badly injured,'and tke circumstances I beiu# reported' to the police, young Sheehan was arrested. Fvfe was meanwhile taken to tho hospital, 'and his condition being very grave, .his were taken in tne presence "of the police and .of Sheehan. _ . Sheehan, who is a' sturdily-built youth, adopted a nonchalant attitude throughout the proceedings, and it was evident that lie . failed to recognise the seriousness of the chargo against him. Part of his equipment when arrested , was a large bowie knife, of which the police took possession.