ATTEMPTED MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1932, Page 5

ATTEMPTED MURDER

PATEA FATALITY COMMITTED TO SUPREME COURT. (Per Press Association'”- Copyright.) HAWERA, December 16. On a charge of having attempted to murder William James Carrndus, who was shot from an ambush outside his residence, at Patea, on the night of October 20th, Alexander Myles, aged 26, single, was committed for trial at Wanganui Supreme Court when he appeared before Justices at the Patea Court to-day. Bail was refused. Carradus, aged 31, and married, was wheeled into the Court in an invalid chair to give evidence. Carradus referred to the alleged confession to him by Myles, and also to deniels by Mrs Carradus concerning relationships be-

tween Myles and Mrs Carradus, when

1 the Carradus family previously had rooms at Myles’ residence. Witness returned home about 9.30 on the night of October 19th, afid fastened the gate with a. strap. The next Moffiirig he saw that the gate had been propped opefl with a piece of wood. About 8.30 oh the flight of October 20th, he ahswered a knock at the door, bfit he could not see ahy one. He walked ifl his pyjamas round the side of the house. He was about to re-enter when he was fired at from close range, his left leg above the knee being shattered badly. He saw a man run away through the gate, but he could not recognise him in the darkness.

Rose Pretoria Carradus, wife of the injured man, gave evidence of having heard a shot, and of hearing her husband call out “I’m shot!” When witnes got to the door she saw her husband trying to crawl into the porchway. Later she noticed the gate propped open. Next morning she saw the felt wad of a shot-gun cartridge lying near the back door.

Replying t 0 counsel for Myles, witness said that she had been fairly friendly with Myles when all were staying in the one house. Counsel: Y‘Was there any talk of you and Myles leaving New Zealand together ?”

Witness: “‘Well, it was his idea! He wanted me to leave.” The police produced statements in which Myles said he had borrowed a shot gun on October 17th to go rabbit shooting. On fijie night of October 19th, lie went into the grounds near the house where Carradus had rooms, propping the gate open. He supposed that was lest anyone should come out. lie did not knock. After a time he went away. The next evening lie went to the house untying the shot-gun loaded in |>oth barrels. He at first placed the gun oil the ground near the gate. After a, third knock on the door, he picked the gun up, cocking the trigger as he did so, and hid in s°me bushes. Carradus was walking round the house. He stopped near Myle’s hiding place. Myles thought Carradus was looking at him. Myles had the gun under liis arm, the barrel pointing towards Carradus. Without taking aim, he pulled the trigger, and the gun went off. When Carradus fell, Myles ran through the gate that he previously had left propped open. The Court suppressed portions of Myles’ statement to the police concerning his association with Mrs Carradus.

The accused reserved his defence and was committed for trial.

APPEAL BY TARRANT.

WELLINGTON, December 16

It is probable that a special sitting of the Court of Appeal will be held in January for the hearing of the appeal of Edward Tarrant 1 , who is under sentence of death for murder at

Picton. The question is under consideration by the Attorney General. It may be necessary for an Order-in-Council to be made for a special sitting of the Court of Appeal, which does not meet in the ordinary way until March 13th.