WANGANUI SENSATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1048, 9 January 1913, Page 3

WANGANUI SENSATION.

TWO MEN AND A WOMAN

A startling shooting affair tool* place in Keith street, Wanganui, bn Tuesday evening (says the Chronicle), as the result of which a man named Andrew Mather lies in the hospital with a bullet in his ankle, and Tom (or Jim) Burn lies in the police cells. The affair took place outside 26 Keith Street, a house occupied by one Violet Howard, a young woman of about 28 years of age. From information gathered after the arrest ol Dunn, it appears that Mather, who is a bushman recently competing in the wood chopping carnival, had spent the previous night at No. 26. He was there yesterday, and called again in the evening. While in the house, Dnnn, who is said to be intimately associated with the woman, entered and seated himself in one of the rooms. Mather shortly afterwards entered the room, and vvas immediately covered by Dunn, who in violent language called upon him to get out. The other at once complied, and was followed into the street by Dunn, still • covering him with the revolver. _ Mather had proceeded about a chain when Duuu fired two shots, one of which took effect, the bullet penetrating Mather’s boots near the top of the upper, and embedding itself in his ankle. However, Mather did not stop, but, wounded as be was, hurried to a friend's house in Bell Street, nearly opposite the police station. The shooting occurred at about 8.30, and it was not uutil 10 o’clock that the injured mau was persuaded by his friend to acquaint the police with what had occurred. Up to that time he bad received no medical attention, but on arrival at the police station Dr. Wall was sent for, and ordered his removal to the hospital. At midnight the bullet had not been extracted, but Mather was reported to have been made comfortable for the night, and the necessary operation will take place this morning. After taking Mather’s statement, Sergeant Bourke, accompanied by Constables Wilson and Barry, proceeded to 26, Keith Street. They found Dunn on the point of leaving, he having his handbag in his possession, and also a bottle of beer and a flask of whisky in his pockets. Dunn stoutly denied having anything to do with the shooting, stating that he had just dropped into the place tor a few minutes, aud that the cartridges which were fouud ou him he had picked up casually from a table on which they were lying. The woman also was disinclined to be communicative, and at first professed to know nothing at all about any revolver having been used. Pressed by the police, who expressed their intention of making a thorough search of the premises, she . finally conducted them to the kitchen and produced from under the cover of a vegetable dish on the sideboard the revolver, with which, apparently, the shooting had been done. She further admitted that it was Dunn who had fired the revolver. The firearm the police found had had two cartridges exploded. The revolver seemed to be a new weapon, of American make,, aud of '3B calibre. The bullet which hit Mather bad evidently made a nasty wound, for the sock which was re- ‘ moved from his foot and retained by the police was marked by a hole quite half an inch in diameter. THE SEQUEL. Wanganui, January 8. , As a sequel to last night’s shooting affray James Dunn was charged this morning with discharging a firearm in a public place. He was remanded till Wednesday next. The bullet was extracted from the wounded man’s ankle to-day, and the injury is progressing satisfactorily.