ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2527, 15 May 1882, Page 3

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

MR JOHN DEANS SHOT AT. This morning, a little before 11 o’clock, a messenger galloped into Christchurch to the Police Depot, stating that the services of the police were required at the well known Biccarton estate. It appears that Mr Deans was in the plantations adjoining the house this morning, when three shots were fired, presumably by poachers, one of which, it is stated, lodged in his shoulder. No time was lost by Inspector Broham, who at once ordered every available member of the force to proceed to Biccarton. These were told off into a surrounding party, who are carefully beating the estate inwards, in the hopes of capturing the men who fired the shots. Later.

It is stated that, shortly after breakfast this morning, Mr Doans went into the bush at the rear of the house, for the purpose of selecting some trees for felling. Whilst stooping to pais through a tangled thicket, he was brought face to face with a man who has been hanging about the estate for the past three weeks. Some little time ago he asked Mr Deans for employment, and it would appear that he has nursed revengeful feelings on account of being refused, and on one or two occasions, when told by the employes of the estate that 1 • had no business on the grounds, he told them defiantly he had as much right to be there as anyone. When he saw Mr Deans, he retreated a few paces, and, bringing his double-barrelled gun to the shoulder, discharged both barrels at him, the first shot striking near the lower rib on the left side, and the next hitting the left shoulder.

Fortunately Mr Doans was thickly clad, owing to the rawness of the morning, and, although the first shot was the moat serious one, the injury sustained by him is but trifling, that on the shoulder being a mere graze. Mr Deans drew his revolver, which he carries with him for the purpose of shooting dogs that may be worrying his flocks, and fired. He believes he hit the miscreant, and, not certain of another chamber being loaded, and also being physically inferior to his assailant, retired to the house and gave the alarm. Dr. Turnbull was speedily in attendance, and, we are happy to say, predicts no dangerous results. Mr Inspector Broham expecta shortly to capture the would-be murderer, who, it is stated, has been driven from the estate, and is supposed to be now secreted in the thick gorse in the neighborhood. He is described as being of moderate stature, thick set, and with red bushy whiskers.