Constable Pleads Guilty of Attempted Murder

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 210, 3 September 1942, Page 5

Constable Pleads Guilty of Attempted Murder

Committed to Supreme Court for Sentence

Per Association. KAITAIA, SepL 2. Charged at Kaltaia to-day with the attempted murder of Mate Soko Urlich, aged 38, a Dalmation gumdigger, at Lake Ohia on July 20, Hrebert Hunter Barrett, aged 41, a police constable, pleaded guilty and was committed by Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M., to the Supieme Court at Auckland for sentence. The lenthy evidence occupied six hems and was followed with intense interest by a large crowd, mostly Dalinations. WalkLig wuh the aid of a stick, over wmen he bent, uriicn gave his evidence to an interpreter, Mrs. Peter amenta, and his recital was followed with intense interest by tne crowd. Mr. Raymond rerner, S.M., was on the Beucu, ana inspector J. Fox, YVnanguxei, prosecuted. Dr. McKechnie, meuicai superintendent of the iuangonui nospnai, ivaitaia, related Union s auniissiun to hospital. He was suitenng from tne effects of two ouiiet wounus, he said, which had entered just below uie leu shoulder bi&de from oenind the left kidney. His condition was so critical that his depositions were tauen and later the kidney n&a to be removed. The victim was now convalescent and wouiu recover If his general healtn • em&ined good. Mate tiouo Urlich told the Court that no was a Single man living at Lake Ohia. He had known Darren for lour or live years, the periou of Barrett's term as constable at MangonuL xuey nad a*ways

ocen on lnenuiy terms, in August, 1941, xiarrett visited mm, saying ne wanted a man of X.iiu, wnicli ne nau tried unsucucßsiuuy to obtain elsewhere. He aaid he wanted it to take worries from his snouiaers. Urnch agreed and drew the money irom the Post office, cashing the cheque at a bank and nanuing over' the money to Barrett, wno gave a promissory uoie tprouuced) in exc*iange. The uate was August 29, 1941. interest was to be paid over a tnree-year term at 3 per cent, -very six months. Offered Him a Ride. On July zu, 1942, continued witness, he was warning home wnen Barrett, wno was in a car, overtoox mm and offered mm a riue. Barrett toid him lie nad some money ior him and drove him to John union's store. Witness waited for him auout three-quarters of an hour. When Barrett returned tney arove to Urlich’s camp, a corrugated iron hut, wnere tney nad a cup of tea and Barrett gave him £a for interesL There was no argument, ana Barrett aaid he would pay a turtnor £2 lbs which he owed at the end of August. “xiarrett said he wanted me to take mm to a high riuge to take pians,” continued Uriicn. Laey went a good mile Barrett loimwing aim. Barrett asaed uriicn if he hau tom anybody about the money, ana ne repnea tnat ne nad not torn anyoouy. Tue nearest occupied •man ty irom where tney were wanting wouiu be auout a nine. Returning, tney were passmg unougu some gum. Haricll wau iOhowiiife, when union heard cwo snots oeninu mm. .tie felt a third -mot pass unuer ms arm, and felt an >hju.y straight away m tne back.

“i started to yell out aim* turned * “ u * a<uu - "Barrett was about two jar us beoiiiu me. ne dropped a *evoiver i*uin ms aand. Accused was oumg to p.c* a up, out i uu not reraem*U<XC to u - no ieu into a o i note, anu £>a*u not to mi mm- i tea hiii uieic. n.ner running uuuosi a qrartei oi a nine r saw accuaeu running belllc* 1 vva,ii 411 fcA'eui path, and loeitng t. at accused w.gnt eaten up to mo i tcua a u.ue.em mac* and reached a house occupies oy a man named Div:c*i. jueiective-oergcani *. xs. Fimay pro- “ a statement Signed by BarreiL who, m mg tne l'eaumg \,aa vnamy agitated, -n ma statement said he realised uau “°“ e wao flreii-J'uble -au uiat he must iace uie Inevitable nuiUsnmeiu. tie <was now anxmus tn do •tnat ue could to assist his iellow on.ceis •u compietins their investigations aim as .ar as possnne relieve hie own kin parLicularly ins wlte anu ch.ldren, trom any *urther stress and btrain that would be connected with the lengthy investigation and consequent trial. He hoped this, his comession, would to some extent relieve .us agony of mind. Barrett detailed what had occurred and wa , s n , ot untU Urlich got Into the ihick scrub that the sudden urge came. He could not help himself firing two shots into Urlich s back. He wnat he had done and called out that he would get a doctor, but Urlich disappeared. When he left Mangonui that afternoon he had no intention of shooting urlich. It was not until he had seen him on the road that it come to hir mind. His actions were due to financial worry. Larrett detailed the car purchases to carry out his police duties for which he said he received £45 a year and he borrowed money from the bank, to repay which he borrowed from Urlich. He had been financially involved since he purchased the last car and this preyed on his mind. He also had domestic troubles through sickness, doctors having to be brought from Kaitaia at a cost of £7 10s a visit. He realised the disaster he had brought on his family and was quite prepared to take his punishment like a man From the time he saw Urlich until he fired the shots everything seemed a uiunk. He seemed to be ligating a strong urge all the time not to snoot him. He had an old .22 revolver and this happened to be in the pocket of his car. This he used to shoot Urlich, afterwards throwing it in the harbour. Cross-examined by .vlr. Reynolds, Detective Fimay said Barrett dictated the statement himself without any questions being asked. The comession nad saved the police much trouble and the country a lot of expense. Barrett at the time the statement was made was suffering severe mental strain and agony of mind. It was possible, Detective Finlay agreed, that In making the statement he nad preserved his sanity. In evidence, Inspector Fox, referring to the purchase by Barrett of the car for departmental duties causing him embarrassment, said it was correct that under the new Zealand system in country stations Barrett had purchased the car for use as required, but it was not correct that the only allowance was annual as was said in the statement. Tnere were annual allowances provided in certain circumstances, but there were also mileage allowances. Mr. Reynolds at this stage submitted that Barrett made a statement of confession, and other questions, which while included in the statement and could have no direct bearing on the purpose of the hearing, were irrevelanL Therefore the department’s rebuttal could not be admitted. • Inspector Fox replied that part of the statement appeared to be an effort to attach a portion of the blame for this present position on the Department. His instructions were to show the allowances Barrett received during his three complete years at Mangonui to set out the true position. The Magistrate said It seemed to him that this part of Barrett’s statement could only be regarded as a matter of extenuation. He held that the evidence proposed to be tendered was not relevant and therefore inadmissable. Continuing his evidence Inspector Fox said Barrett was efficient as a constable and in his 19 years' service had a clean record.

Replying to Mr. Reynolds he said Barrett held both the long service and good conduct medals. He was in full accord with what Dectective Finlay said about him. There was a genuine desire on Barrett’s part to save nil the people concerned trouble and worry.

This closed the prosecution, no evidence being called for the defence. Barrett pleaded guilty and was committed for se'ntence.