SHOOTING CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1760, 29 May 1906, Page 2

SHOOTING CASE.

THE MOUNT EDEN BENSATION,

THE YOUTH ACQUITTED.

(Par Press Abboelation.)

Auckland, last night. A youth namod George Ha3selt pleaded not guilty that to attempted at Mount Eion on or about March 15th last to cause

aotual bodily barm to Charles Hassett (hi father) by discharging a revolver at him. Mr O. J. Tanks appeared for prisoner.

Evidence was given by Cbail-s Hassett to the e fleet that he bad a dispute with his wife about prisoner not getting work. H« and bis wife were poshing oaoh other about, and prisoner then arrived and entered the room with a loaded'revolytr. Witness and p-isoner had suns angry words previous to the disturbance. Prisoner fi.pl at witness’s head, and a bullet was embedded there still.

For the defence Mr Tunks said that the ovidenoe for the proseoution was admitted, with the exception of indent. The prisoner entered the house and saw bis father pushing his mother about, and wi'h a view to frigbtorng him, tired over his head, but unfortunately at that moment Hassett raised his head and received the thot on the side of the bead.

His Honor briefly addressed tbs jury, remarkiDg tbat it was a oaso for them to consider whether prisoner had any intent when he fired at his father. It appeared to His Honor an easy matter to miss a person who was very close.

The jury returned a verdiot that the prisoner “ Fired carelersly but without in* ! tent to do gtievous bodily harm,” His Honor : That is not guilty. If those are the faots you find you must re turn a verdict of not gui’ty. The jnry accordingly returned a verdiot of not guilty, and Hassett was discharged. His Honor informed Hassett that he had better be a little more careful in future or he would end up in a very bad place. He ccnid not see any excuse for Hassett sbootiDg at his father. In makr j icg this remark he was not reflecting on the jury.