REVOLVER FIRED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20120, 14 December 1939, Page 7

REVOLVER FIRED

AFFRAY IN HOUSE BULLET MISSES MAN COMPLAINANT’S STORY SEAMAN FOR TRIAL (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, tills day. Alleged to have fired a revolver at Stanley Meredith Hunt on November 25, Charles Theodore Nelson, aged 51, a Norwegian seaman, appeared in the Police Court to-day before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., on a charge of attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Suoreme Court for trial in February. On a further charge of being in possession of an unregistered firearm accused was remanded. Hunt said he lived at the Salvation Army hostel in Vivian street. His sister had a house at. Jessie street, where he'Trequently visited her in the evenings and at the week-ends. His sister let rooms and he met some of the tenants, among them on several occasions, the accused. Listening- to Radio On November 25, he was there in tlie afternoon listening to the racing results on the radio Nelson came in and started talking, and witness told him he wanted to listen to the races. Accused said: “You don’t want to talk to me,” and witness replied: ‘T don’t want to be bothered with you.” Nelson rose saying: “You big ” repeated the words, left the room ana went upstairs. He returned >n a couple of minutes, reseated himself on the couch and once more asked: “How are you?” Witness said: “Don’t ask questions,” Nelson said: "You think you are a Dit of a wrestler.” Witness said: “Yes, 1 have done a bit of wrestling.” To this /Nelson replied: “You think you have got it on me. “I’ve well got it ou you.” Witness turned the radio on loudly. Accused said: “Turn that thing off,” rose from the sofa, put his back to the wall and used offensive terms. ■Pulling out a revolver, he said ::Now this is a blank raundge. I am going to shoot you.” He moved the hammer and ’hen said: “This is a live cartridge. You dirty big ——. lam going to blow your brains out.” Bullet Whizzed Past He rushed up to within a yard and fired. Witness ducked his head and a bullet whizzed past and went right through the wall. Nelson walked to the wall and was fumbling about when witness told him to put the gun away. A few seconds later he walked past Nelson and out of the room. To Detective-Sergeant Murray witness said the accused was drunk but seemed to know what he was doing. Mr. Hardie Boys, cross-examining, said: “I put it to you that you accused Nelson of being a bosses’ man and said you were a Communist.” Hunt: No. Have you Communist sympathies?— Yes. I was interested in the development of: the Soviet Union. Has Nelson joined issue with you on that topic? —No. Witness denied threatening Nelson. He had known the accused, for about eight months. He was a harmless type when sober and had lent his sister and husband money when they were in need of it.

The police evidence was that the accused was taken to the Mt. Cook police station and searched. In one pocket there were 36 cartridges and an empty shell When the revolver was taken, Neison said: “I was just on my way to dump that.”

He admitted having a shot at Hunt and said .that if his eyesight had not been so bad he would have got him. It had been stated that the accused was under treatment for his eyes. A firearms expert included in evidence made a statement that the revolver was a .32. Bail was refused.