ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3008, 9 March 1926, Page 2

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE.

SHOTS FIRED AT A WOMAN.

Auckland, March 8. Frederick George Mayes was charged in the Magistrate’s Court with attempting the murder of Agnes Walker. He was committed for trial at the Supreme Court. Walker, who is aged about 22 years, said that she was a married woman living apart from her husband. Two months prior to February 22 she had been living with accused as man and wife. On February 22 she had visited her mother at Papakura, and returned home to Freeman’s Bay at 9 p.m. Accused said to her: “I want to speak to you. I know all about Walker (her husband) coming here to-day.” The accused refused to believe that she had been on a visit to her mother. High words followed, and she ran into a lane followed by Mayes, who caught hold of her. She had a baby in her arms, and being frightened called for help. Accused relaxed his hold and called to a man who lived in the same house: “Bring that gun down here.” Witness said: “Don’t do it. For God’s sake use your head.” The man (Trainer) brought the rifle; which Mayes usually kept in his wardrobe, and gave it to accused. Trainer took the baby from her, and accused pointed the rifle at her. She ran up the lane. Wfrien she was fourteen yards away she heard a shot, but was not injured. Trainer said in evidence that when he gave the gun to accused he thought it was empty. He heard Mayes say: “I will shoot you, you .” Witness snatched the baby from Mrs Walker, saying to accused: “Don’t be silly, Fred. Take a pull.” Accused pointed the rifle straight at Mrs Walker, who was two yards away, and pulled the trigger. The gun misfired. Walker told her fo run. When she was fifteen yards away Mayes' fired again and missed. After this Mayes turned to witness, who was holding the baby, and said: “Hold him up I will shoot him, too.” The arresting constable said that Mayes at first denied having the rifle, but later said: “I know, constable, I am a fool. I fired the shot in the air over my wife’s head.” When charged with attempted murder, accused said: “I’ll plead guilty to the lot. I don’t want to say anything. It was just my bad temper.”