HIT BY BULLET

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1931, Page 5

HIT BY BULLET

GREYMOUTH MYSTERY. LADY WOUNDED IN KNEE. Whilst reeturning from a walk alon the south breakwater of the Gre River last evening at 7.50 o’clock i company with her husband, Mrs Danie McCarthy, of Greymouth, received bullet wound in the knee,. the missih it is thought having been;s one firec from a .22 rifle. Mr and Mrs McCarthy* had jusstopped to talk to some friends, ant when Mrs McCarthy walked a few paces away from the group she was ai once struck by the bullet. ; Prior tt this the discharge of a fierarm coulc be heard, of which several who were on the breakwater had taken no, notice, until Mrs McCarthy was struck, ant even after that more shots were firec off in the semi-darkness. The person with the rifle possibly did not know that one of his shots had struck a person. When the shots continued after one had struck Mrs McCarthy, several people in the vicinity made quickly foj shelter. The shots were fired directly across the river from a position adjacent to the.lower beacon on the Cobden side of the river. They may have had no objective, but it is difficult to imagine that any sane person would have done such a thing when it must have been realised that people would be Walking aloilg the opposite bank. There was a boat in the vicinity, but it is hardly likely that it could be iff any way connected, with the affair. It is stated that somebody was eventually seen going quickly away from the vicinity of the beacon. The police were advised, and soon were on the scene. They searched the Cobden side of the river but failed to locate the person responsible. The police are still pursuing their inquiries* Mrs .McCarthy was shot at the side of the 'left knee. She was quickly removed to the Grey Hospital, where the injury, which was not apparently a serious one, was attended to. It is uncertain whether the bullet lodged in the knee, and an X-Ray examination will be made to-day.