Jealous Man Admits Threatening Girl

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 782, 1 October 1929, Page 1

Jealous Man Admits Threatening Girl

SCENE IN HOTEL “I’LL SHOOT YOU” Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. Russell George McCarthy, aged 23, was charged in the Magistrate's Court before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M„ with attempting to murder Theresa Mary O’Neill, a domestic, on September 25, and with carrying a firearm for an unlawful purpose. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. The charge was a sequel to the Empire Hotel incident. A detective gave evidence that in a statement accused said he only intended to give the girl a fright, in order to induce her to return. He admitted putting a bullet in the breech of the gun. “I did not intend to hurt her. I loved her too much for that,” he had said. “I know now I let jealousy get the better of me.” Detective-Sergeant O’Brien said he found a cardboard box containing 26 live cartridges under the bed in McCarthy’s room. Theresa Mary O’Neill, single, aged 19,- gave evidence that she was a waitress at the Empire Hotel, and had known accused for 10 months. They had been living together for the past four months, but after a quarrel on September 25 she returned to the hotel. McCarthy followed her and produced a rifle in two pieces. He put it together and then said: “I’ll shoot you.” He worked the magazine of the rifle and she said; “I’ll come home, I’ll come home.” With that he gave her a push, and she rushed outside and cried for help. Mr. T. E. Robinson, licensee of the hotel, came and struggled with accused, who was terribly excited. Robinson’s evidence was to the effect that when he picked up the rifle it was cocked, ready to fire. He later saw a police-sergeant take a cartridge out of the breach and another out of the magazine. Witness saw accused struggling with the girl and trying to get the i rifle round to her head. The police ! evidence corroborated his that the rifle was loaded.