SENSATIONAL SHOOTING AFFRAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1076, 15 March 1913, Page 2

SENSATIONAL SHOOTING AFFRAY.

Auckland, March 13

A sensational shooting affray occurred near Takapuna to-day, by which Percy Robert Skeates (motor garage proprietor) and Robert James Hanna (driver for the firm) received wounds. Skeates was shot five times, bullets lodging in the right armpit (slightly injuring the lung), the back of the right hand, the left upper arm, and the right upper eyelid, while one grazed the chest. Hanna was hit by three bullets, the one lodging in the right shoulder-blade being the most serious, the others merely grazing him, Both men will recover.

According to a statement by one of the injured men, a man who wished to purchase a car was taken for a drive. The would-be purchaser left the car tor a minute, and suddenly opened fire on Hanna and Skeates with a revolver. Skeates fell over at the first shot, while Hanna jumped out.

His assailant fired more shots at Skeates, who lay in the road. Hanna, believing Skeates to be dead, sought safety in flight.

His assailant then took possession of the car, and drove back to Takapuna, informing the police that there had been some shooting by persons in the motor car. Hanna also returned to the police station, and a party went out and brought Skeates back to the Hospital. Robert Jasper Crago, alleged to be the assailant, has been arrested. He is about 19 years of age.

It is understood that the arrested man Crago made no statement beyond what he told the police at Takapuna. He informed the latter that there had been some shooting by some persons in a motor-car on the road to Silverdale, about two miles and a half from Takapuna. He then went on to explain that he was taking Skeates and Hanna out to see the country in a car he intended to purchase. When about two miles and a half from Takapuna he left the car for the money, and while he Was away heard shots. Returning to the road he saw Skeates lying on the road, while the other man, Hanna, was running off in the direction of Brown’s Bay. Crago said he got into the car and made haste to inform the police. Auckland, March 14.

The condition of Skeates, who was severely injured in the shooting affray yesterday, shows some slight improvement. Hanna is progressing very well.

Crago, who is alleged to have committed the shooting, was brought before the Court to-day and charged with attempted murder, and remanded till Thursday. No application was made for bail.