PREMEDITATED CRIME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 555, 7 January 1929, Page 11

PREMEDITATED CRIME

Verdict in Wanganui Tragedy

ALLEN’S MIND WAS UNHINGED

Special to THE SUXJ

WAXGAXUI. To-day. THE evidence fully satisfied him: — (1) That deceased’s act followed on premeditation preparation. (2) That deceased’s mind was seriously unhinged at the time. (3) That the police methods designed to assist and persuade Allen to protect the public aud public servants, were intelligent and proper. The above was the verdict of Mr. J. S. Barton. SAI.. coroner to-day, when inquiring into the tragic death of George Allen which caused such a sensation in Wanganui last week.

Arthur Gaskin, cinema operator, said that he was on his way to work in the early part of Wednesday evening, when passing the Parisian Sweet shop, he saw a woman, whom he recognised as Mrs. Withey, crawling out of the shop on her hands and knees. She was covered in blood and cried out: “Oh, Mr. Gaskin, save me, get me away. He is after me, and he hit me on the head with a bottle.” Witness asked her who hit her. Mrs. Withey replied: “Alien hit rue.” Mr. Gaskin assisted the i iijured woman to the Opera House and notified the doctor, police and ambulance. Mrs. Withey became unconscious, but came to when Dr. Wall arrived. The latter ordered her removal to the hispital. Allen was inside the shop, which was closed. Medical evidence was given by Dr. Anderson. Robert E. Hunt, brother-in-law of Allen, said that the gun used by Allen had been taken without his permission. Constable M. Roach said that he was on watch duty on the night in question. At about 6.30 ire received a phone message for police assistance, and a constable was dispatched. An other message received asked for further assistance. Witness went round to the “Parisian,” and went down an alleyway. He saw a window open. Inside was Allen, with a shotgun in

liis possession. Witness spoke to Allen, who replied: “Mick, I am- mad. and will shoot you if you attempt to come in.” As the hours went byAllan seemed to get more desperate. Witness said that in his opinion Allen was insane and dangerous. DOUBLE-BARRELLED GUN

Evidence was given by Detective Revell that he had known the deceased for the past two years. He was a single man, 34 years of a ivy. and followed the occupation of a bushman labourer. At 7.45 p.m. on Wednesday evening, on hearing that there was a disturbance in St. Hill. Street, witness went there: On going down the alley-way between the Parisian Sweet Shop and the telephone excHange, he found a small easement window opening into a small room at the rear of the shop. Allen was inside this room with a double-barrelled shot-gun in his possession, and witness asked him to hand the gun over, but he refused to comply. He said that if witness attempted to entere, he would be shot. In reply to the detective, Allen said the gun was loaded. Breaking it open, he extracted two fully-loaded cartridges for his inspection, and afterwards replaced them.

Asked what the trouble was about Allen said he had “fixed her at last,” and was going to “do himself in.”