A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1931, Page 3

A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR

SHOTS FIRED.

STOREKEEPER’S NARROW ESCAPE.

PALMERSTON N., September 9

There was ’another mysterious shooting affair here to-day, in which Mrs E. Broadbent, proprietress of a small store near Hokowhitu School, had a lucky escape from injury from two bullets fired in rapid succession, immediately behind the shop is a living room which leads to a small scullery. This is lighted by a window eighteen inches square, which looks out on an open space. About 1 p.m. Mr s Broadbent was entering the scuilery when she was struck by a shower of flying glass, the force of which sent her ree.ing back to the living room. Recovering, she found two bullet holes in the scullery window, which faces the door. Three detectives spent some time searching for the bullets but without success.

City Council employees levelling a footpath some distance away l eard two shots at 10 a.m. and two a few moments before 1 p.m, Mr B Broadbe ;t, a son of Mrs Broadbent. heard two s' ots about one o’clock, whilst h© was shaving in a room a few yards from the store.

The bullet holes are slightly sma'ler than a florin and are spaced two inches apart one being directly above the other.

There is a lagoon nearby and one exnlanation is that the shots were aimed 'at birds on the water. Neighbours state, however, that birds are scarce that there lr>s been no s’lio n ling ovo 1 the lagoon lately and that it is most unlikely that those in search of sport would aim directly at houses on the south side of the water.