CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2735, 20 May 1924, Page 3

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

SEQUEL TO BULLS SHOOTING AFFRAY. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. A shooting affray which took place a I Parewanui, near Bulls on Sunday, April 27, had its sequel in fhe-Pnlmerston N. Police Court .yesterday when Eruera Tangeroa, a burly native, was charged before Messrs C. H. Whitehead and W. G. Ashworth, J.’sP. that on April 27 at Parewanui, be did attempt to murder William Ross.

Accused was not represented by counsel, and Detective-Sergeant Quirke conducted the case for the police. William Ross, a farm manager at Parewanui, near Balls, said that on the afternoon of Saturday, April 26. he received a message from the son of Ihe accused that the accused wished to see him. He visited accused the next morning and on approaching accused saw that he had a rifle in his hand. Accused said: “Throw up your hands.” Witness replied, calling upon him to put the rifle down and then he would talk to him. Accused,however, repeated (he command and as he looked as if he was going to fire, witness pulled his horse round and lay as flat as possible upon it. At that moment he heard a report and felt a sting in the back and “went for his life” as the accused discharged two further shots at him and he could hear the bullets whiz over his head. Tn response to questions by the accused, witness denied that a seal was sent to him for the accused and also that he became a guardian of the accued because of this. Ho further denied that he had shown any such seal to (lie gaol officials at. Wellington or that a revolver had been given him for the accused. Dr. Watson gave evidence as to Ross’ injuries.

Toko Ngaheke gave evidence as to witnessing the shooting. Moses Edward Tangaroa said on the day prior to the occurrence the accused had acted in a strange maliner and had smashed up a gig belonging to himself, also chopping (he handle off a spade, as well as throwing a. revolver into the river. The accused treated his family and witness very well. To (lie accused, witness said accused had (brown axles, (rollev wheels and a number of tools into the river.

Evidence was given as to the ariosi of accused by Archibald Yardloy. Prior to this incident the acoasrd was mi honest, hard-working man. though about two weeks previously lie had told witness of a grievance which lie had against a neighbour. In reply to .-iconscd witness sai<l a man named Meades was in the ear and they also bad a rifle. It was mil pointed directly at accused, for it was lying against the door of the car. Constable Roach had not produced firearms when accused had a prayer book in his band. Witness did not threaten to shoot Constable Roach if the later shot accused. “I told him I was there to help him,’ said witness, “but 1 did not offer to take his part against the constable.”

Constable Jones, of Mar tor, corroborated the evidence of Yardley. Accused: “Was it not a fact that when you approached, you asked me if I had firearms and I pulled the automatic out of .my pocket?” No that is not so. Here accused became violently excited and lapsing into good English raised his hand above his head and cried: “You lie before God. God before us; remember that. Tell the truth or you will get a knock from Him!” Accused then asked: “Were you not drunk when you arrested me?’ Certainly not. “You were; of course you were,” cried the witness again. “You are lying again* and crying like a baby.” Constable Blaxland of Rongotea, related in evidence having visited the house of accused on April 27 and there found a .303 rifle, which showed signs of having been used a short time previously. The rifle was at full cook and there was a live cartridge in the breach and three in the magazine, one of which was a flat nose or “dum-dum” bullet. Accused pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. “Plead guilty. —No.” he cried. “Before God, not guilty.” Taugeroa was therefore committed to the Supreme Court at Palmer, stun A. for trial at the August.session.