Shot in Mistake

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 105, 31 October 1893, Page 2

Shot in Mistake

_». AN AWFUL RESULT OF DEAF. NESS. Sydney, October 21. At the inquest on the body of Alice May Wrightson, who died at mid«night of tbe day on which she was shot (Wednesday) at the Guyra Bank, it was shown thnt deceased, after listening to a burglar's attempt to enter the bank premises for half an hour, raised an alarm, which was first heard by Mrs Earl, her husband I ems deaf. His wife told Earl that Alice was being murdered by burglar*, ppog which he got his revolver and started for deceased's room.. The door was partly open, and a dark figure was seen to be moving. At the same time the door was apparently being shut. Earl called out " Stand !" and though deceased says she spoke to him he did not hear her, through his deafness. He then fired, and the ball went through the door panel, and through a dress that was hanging behind it, into the right breast of Miss Wri^htsqn, remaining in her body. Alarmed by the shot, Mr Hall, a clerk who had been roused by deceased, came into the pas* sage, and Karl, supposing him to be the burglar, covered him with the revolver, and was only prevented from firing by Hall speaking and Earl recognising his voice. At this time Karl did not know he had shot Mis* Wrightson, and when the fact was made known to him by Mrs Earl he became almost distracted. De« ceased had told a constable that he was not to blame anybody, bat that " Arthur had shot her in mistake for a burglar." She also spoke a* though she did not consider the wounds serious, as her heart had not been touched by the bullet, after a few hours, however, Miss Wrightsoo became incoherent and delirious, and no dying depositions were taken, as she never regained consciousness. The jury's verdict was that death had resulted from a pistol-shot wound receiyed at the bands of Arthur Earl, that her death was accidental, and that they exonerated Earl from all blame. Just opened at the New Zealand Clothing Factory, Feilding, Men's .*ummer Suits, tbe latest in Ties, Straw Hats, White Vests, Figured Vests, Alpaca Dusters, China Silk Dusters, Alpaca Sacs, China Silk Sacs, Ac, &e,~Adn.