A SHOOTING CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1759, 28 May 1906, Page 3

A SHOOTING CASE.

TEN YEARS’ IMPRISONMET,

Tbo following is some of the evidenoe given in the Auckland Supreme Court in the cha-ges against William Smith and Alice Simeon for house-breakiog end attempted matder of Constable Ooppel. Fofibo defence, Alice Simeon said she first met prisoner in Melbourne. His Honor: Wbat has this to do with your ehooting Constable Coppel? Prisoner: I want to clear my character. I wi ! l show you it has a lot to do with the oase, Your Honor. Prisoner: You gave me the revolver, didn’t you? Witness (indignmtly): Oal Yiu are making a great mistake. His Honor: You never gave him tne revolver? Witnßss: For him to say that about me 1 Eemember the God that is watobicg over you, At first you told them it was a man dressed up in woman’s clothes that was with you, and then you blame me. The idea! Indeed I would be frightened to handle it. His Honor: Does the prisoner want to ask any questions ? Prisoner: No. Witness : Oh, hB would like to blame me for that. Ia reply to Mr Tole, witness said the prisoner persuaded her to enter the Bhop, leading her by the arm. She had lived witti prisoner. Witness: He was alwayß going to marry ms. I do not know what the youDg men are ooming to nowadays. Tbo mile prisoner gave a sketoh.of his life in Melbourne, Sydoev, and Bisbane, *nd than Auckland. He al'eged that, owing to the woman Simeon, be was fo to sell a haudresser’a businei' in Melbourne at a loss. He came to Auckland and the wnman followeU kirn The nig

b' of the occurrence he mat the woman, and they entered a shop in Karangahape road. Che woman gave him the revolver io tho shop, and when they came out of the shop bo saw the constable and bolted, Sa did not kuow what the revolver was like, and when bo entered Liverpool street be pulled the trigger to see if the revolver was all right. He firßt fired in the a'EContinuing, he said : “ When I g it into the lane 1 fired at the constable agiinto frighten him away, as I did not wish to sot’ into trouble. I did not have Bny intent on of firing at the policeman, cr intmd to harm him I have a clear conscience. Before my God, I swear I never fired at the policem in with any intent. This whole gathering bag searchiog eyes upoam?. But yon can only see with human eyes, not with the eye of God. I have no more to say." , . Me Tole: You wore the poor Adam that ate the app'e V Prisoner: Never mind about that.. Io reply to Mr Tole, prisoner said bo had a good character in Melbourne, and waa net known to the police. Mr Tole (bolding up a photo of prisoner andlSnger prints from the police records): Do you know theso ? Is that your photo from Melbourne ? Prisoner: It’s coming to something soanda'ous when they take my photo > a Auikland, and say it was takmin Melbourne. , . Mr Tole: What about your finger prints? . ... Prisoner: 1 know nothing about that. Mr Tolo: Wo have a criminal investigation branoh report hero from Melbourne. Prisoner admitfol having served a month for using insulting languago. Prisoner oalled three hairdressers of Auckland to show the Court that he had been wO'king in Auckland and at Dargavilla One of tho w loesses explained that prisoner left Dargaville " because there was too muoh gambling, and it did not have a good moral effect upon him. (Laughter.) Mr Tole : He wanted to come to a pure atmosphere, I suppose ! Prisoner then read a lengthy statement to the jury, pleading his innoceno-, and declared that ho had no indention of harmlog tbo constabla; ho only wanted to frighten him. Smith was sentenced to ton years bard labor. His Honor, addressing tho woman, said it was quite plain she had been living a bad life, and it was plaia if she did not turn over a new leaf that she would end very badly. Bhe appeared a first offender, and he would stretoh a point in her favor. He hoped, however, her sentmoe would not be acoepied as a precedent. His Honor then admitted prisoner to probation for two years, on the usual terms