MYSTERY CREEK CASE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 235, 19 February 1910, Page 2

MYSTERY CREEK CASE.

Accused Committed for Trial

From our Hamilton Correspondent. Hamilton, Friday. The whole of to-day lias been occupied at the Magistrate's Court wilh the case of attempted murder, brought against the lad, John Minion Paull, aged 19, who was arrested and remanded last week in connection with the shooting case at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton on Tuesday, Bth inst., when Messrs Ward and Jordan, officials respectively of the Hamilton branch of the Banks of Australasia and New Zealand, were fired a'c while conveying money in a buggy from Hamilton to Ohaupo. It will be remembered that as the result of the shot Jordan was seriously injured about the face and neck, and was conveyed to the Hospital, of which he is still an inmate. Messrs Davis and J.'sP., were on the bench, and Detectives Marsack and McMahon conducted the case for the police, Mr. C. L. McDiamid appearing for accused. The proceedings closed shortly before 5 o'clock, and the case attracted the greatest attention, the well of the court being literally packed all day. Thirty witness were called and examined. Leslie Jordan, who was shot on the occasion, gave formal evidence. He appeared in court with his face and head copiously bandaged, and his arm in a sling. Other, witnesses deposed variously to seeing a man alleged to be accused in the vicinity of the creek and elsewhere adjacent, with a gun, which was afterwards found and traced to having been in the possession of accused previously. From police evidence, it appears that Paul!, when arrested, denied, in a statement, all connection with or any knowledge of the occurrence, but it came out in evidence that he had told the stableman when he hired the horse on Tuesday morning that he was going to Te Rapa, and that the gun he was then carrying was to be mended there. Evidence further showed that ho was seen in a totally opposite direction to Te Rapa. The evidence of the bookkeeper at Clark an 1 Sons', where Paull was employed, went to show that accused was a'bseiit from work on the morning in question, and when asked to account for this he said that he was "crook in the inisde," and thpt he "went for a spin." Towards the end of the case a somewhat sensational statement made at Auckland by the accused was read. This document, which is of a lengthy nature, alleges, inter alia, that accused was coerced by certain Maoris, he giving the name of one (the leader) as Te Raniere., whom, he stated, lived at Te Kuiti with his mother. Accused, in this statement, puts forth the assertion that he had to take a hand in the affair under the pain of death. He states that he met the Maoris one night in Hamilton, when the object of waylaying the Bank officials was mooted by them. The leader is alleged to have said that if accused did not assist on the Tuesday he would be a dead man. Paull also states that he did not fire the shot which wounded Jordan, but that Te Raniere did, and afterwards left the scene. Police evidence, however, shows that all endeavours to find the Maoris said to be implicated are fruitless, and the* evidence of several other witnesses goes to show that no Maoris or others were about at the time Paull was seen, The evidence of Dr. Douglas states that between 80 and 90 shots struck Jordan, some of which are still embedded in his face, neck, shoulder, and arm. The unfortunate young man is suffering from facial paralysis. Mr. MacDiamid, on behalf of the accused said that no plea would be entered at this stage. Detective Marsack said that it was necessary to either enter a plea of guilty or one of not jniilty. Mr MacDiamid, however, still contended that he need enter no plea, and this being accepted accused was committed for trial at the sitting of the Supreme Court at Hamilton on 28th inst.