THE PEA RIFLE AGAIN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 557, 9 April 1913, Page 5

THE PEA RIFLE AGAIN.

BODY DANGEROUSLY INJURED. SHOT BY COMPANION. A sensational shooting affray occurred at Whangarei on Sunday, as the result of which a youth named Sheehan is in custody on a charge of attempted murder. It appears that on Sunday morning several boys met by appointment at Fyfe's place in Parahaki, having previously borrowed a pea rifle with cartridges. The following story haa been elicited. About 2 p.m. on Sunday, George Pyfe, aged about 12, picked up a piece of manure, and threw it at Sheehan, who lost his temper and picked up the pea rifle shouting "I'll bore a hole through you!" Fyfe frightened fled behind the shelter of a tree. Another boy named Riley grappled with Sheehan, trying to wrest the rifte from him, while the rest of the party cried, "Don't shoot!" Fyfe came out into the open, when Sheehan, it is asserted, levelled the rifle and shot him on the left side. Fyfe fell at his little sister's feet, saying "I'm shot!" The wounded boy was carried to his parents' house, close by, and thence taken to Whangarei Hospital. The police tvere informed of the occurrence, and the injured boy's condition became so grave that hiß depositions were taken in the presence of a Justice of the Peace, and of the boy Sheehan, who has been arrested. At the Magistrate's Court on Monday, Edward Augustine Sheehan, aged fifteen and a-half, was charged with having wilfully attempted to murder George Fyfe by shooting him on the left side with a pea rifle at Parahaki, on April 6th. Accused was remanded from day to day in custody. The bullet has been located in Fyfe's body by means of X rays, but little hope is entertained for his recovery.