GUILTY OF ASSAULT

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 23, 27 July 1945, Page 9

GUILTY OF ASSAULT

DUNEDIN SHOOTING CASE

P a DUNEDIN, This Day. The trial of Percy James Cuff, 38, tramways cleaner, on a charge of the attempted murder of his wife, Irene Margaret Cuff, is proceeding in the Supreme Court. There are alternative minor charges, including one of being found by day with a loaded rifle with intent to "enter a dwelling-house and assault his wife by threatening to apply force. The accused, who is separated from his^wife, admitted in a statement that he intended to frighten her, He denied that he told her he would shoot. She tried to take the rifle from him and he heard a shot, ' Mrs. Cuff, in evidence, stated that he forced his way into an unlighted passage of her house and said she had "asked for it and was going to get it." She grabbed what she thought was a stick which he held pointed up in the air and forced it down. Then she heard an explosion and realised that she was shot. After a retirement of 2^ hours the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty on the major count. Verdicts of guilty were brought in on two alternative charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and of being found by day with a dangerous weapon, In respect to the first of these charges the jury added a recommendation to mercy, The accused was remanded for sentence.