THE LATE SHOOTING CASE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2195, 9 March 1881, Page 3

THE LATE SHOOTING CASE.

This morning, at the Police Court, before J. P. Jamieson, J. B. Brown, and A. B. Kimboll, Esqs., John Baufieli was brought up, on remand, charged with shooting John Spring, with intent to kill. John Spring depased that he was a carrier, living in Ferry road. Saw prisoner, at about 2 p.m. on the 3rd instant, at the front of Dunniag’s fruit shop, High street. Walking south, witness overtook prisoner, who turned round at Brice’s corner, and, taking a revolver from his right-hand trousers’ pocket, fired two shots at witness. Prisoner appeared to take deliberate aim. The first ball fired went through the trousers and drawers of witness and grazed his thigh. The second missed. [Trousers produced, exhibiting the holes made by the passage of the bullet.] Witness had no idea of the motive of the prisoner. Had laid on information a few doys previously against prisoner, seeking to have him bound over to keep the peace, as he was continually threatening witness. On the Saturday night previous one Duckworth, with whom the prisoner was living, knocked witness up and produced two revolvers which Duckworth said belonged to prisoner, who had threatened to shoot witness with them, William Charles Garret, a cabman, living in Ferry road, said that on Thursday, the 3rd instant, being on the cab-stand opposite the City Hotel, saw prisoner level and fire a revolver at Spring, who jumped upwards. Prisoner fired twice. Ho was about four yards from Spring. Witness left his cab, and with some other men seized prisoner. The revolver [produced] was taken from him. Prisoner made no attempt on any one but Spring. William Henry Kiddoy, hotel-keeper, corroborated the evidence of previous witness. Ho did not see the shooting, but hoard two shots. Helped to arrest the prisoner, who had a revolver in his possession partly concealed. The revolver had lately been discharged, and there were two empty cartridge coses in it.

Patrick Ryan, police constable, received prisoner at the police station on the day named. The previous witness and others brought him. On telling prisoner he was charged with shooting Spring, he said he was sorry he had missed him—he had intended to hit him right enough. He further said that Spring had crippled him, and made him as he could not carry a swag two miles. Witness searched him, finding a bag containing seven cartridges, which fitted the revolver produced.

Edward Duckworth, cabinetmaker, living at Sandridge, stated that ho had known prisoner for seventeen years. Witness, Spring, and prisoner were shipmates from England. Prisoner had boon lodging with witness for the last six or seven months. Prisoner is a sailor, and while lodging with witness, had been jobbing about the premises. On Saturday, January 26tb, prisoner went up to town. Before going he asked Mrs Duckworth for two pistols belonging to the former, and was refused. Mrs Duckworth had found them loaded about three months before that. When asking for the pistols, prisoner said if Spring did not meet him, he would “ level him down.” Witness believed there had been some bother between the men on the West Coast.

Mary Duckworth, wife of previous witness, corroborated her husband’s statement about finding the pistols, &c., adding that prisoner said he bad bought them to meet Spring with.

John Garrard, gunsmith, of Victoria street, saw prisoner on the 3rd inst. between 10 a.m. and noon, and sold him the revolver and some of the ammunition produced. Prisoner was quite sober. This was the case for the prosecution. The evidence having been read over, prisoner, in answer to the Magistrate, said that Spring had parted him and his wife, prostituted bis children, and poisoned him, doing him every bodily harm and injury that could be done. He had tried to get a meeting peaceably with Spring, without success, and felt driven finally to do what ho had done. Prisoner was then committed to take bis trial at the next session of the Supreme Court at Christchurch. Bail was not mentioned.