BANK SHOOTINC AFFRAY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 346, 29 January 1937, Page 6

BANK SHOOTINC AFFRAY

INVERCARGILL CASE CHARGE OF MURDER. Clerk Committed For Trial Next Month. Press Association-—Copyright. Invercargill, Last Night. The charge of murder against 17y ear-old Oswald Cameron, the bank clerk who shot Michael Fletcher, a storeman, on the premises of the Bank of Now Zealand at Invercargill on December 27, was taken concurrently with the inquest. As reported yesterday, the charges against the three men who with Fletcher, entered the Bank premises on the night of the shooting, were dismissed by the Magistrate, Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M.

In evidence, after explaining that he thought there might be mischief and so put a revolver in his pocket the accused said that he handed that ope to Wyatt, his companion and senior officer. Later Wyatt asked him for a second revolver. Wyatt asked the men to leave.

The accused thought by the jabber of voices that mischief wgis meant. He got uneasy and went for the second revolver which he gave to Wyatt. They tried fo get the men to leave but it was useless. Liquor was on *he table and the men could help themselves. They did not go unifl 4.50 a.m. Evidence was given by Robertson, Kitson and McQuarrje, who admitted having liquor during the evening and had gone to the Bank where further drink was taken. Referring to the event leading up to the shooting of Fletcher, McQuarrie said he told Cowie to put the revolver away. “I went back,” said witness, “and told Fletcher to come down. Wya'tf grabbed my legs and I hit him with my fist, turned and rolled downstairs. 1 was just outside the door when I heard three shots. We ran down the street and found Fletcher missing, so went back and found him lying bleeding.” Wyatt said he unloaded one of the Bank revolvers with the idea of inducing the, men to leave. McQuarrie finally got possession of the revolver. He did not remember what happened on the stairs or the circumstances in which the meai left the building. Mr. Macalister: Did you fire the shots ?—No,

Mr. Russell: It is admitted that Cowie fired the shots. There will be no contest on that.

Constable Summers said that Cowie came to the police station with a revolver and said he had shot one of four men who had been drinking in the bank. At the B|a-n.k I found McQuarrie and Kitson endeavouring to staunch the flow of blood from Fletcher’s left arm. Fletcher was also shot in the abdomen. Wyatt was lying on the ground at the back door of the Bank in a. huddled condition. He was conscious but in a very bad way. In the ambulance he said to me, ‘‘Don’t let Ossie lose his job; 1 did it.”

Giving further evidence Cowie said the men at last began to walk down the stairs. They went as far as the first landing when suddenly I saw Wyatt talk, ipg back with two of them attacking him. I jumped in. and received a blow on the ear. On the edge of the stairs I -saw Wyatt’s revolver. I picked it up and ran down where I sgw Wyatt standing Outside the strongroom door bending over and holding his head in his hands. ’T stumbled on the bottom step and fell against the gate on the left. I saw a shadow moving. Under the impulse of great fear, I pulled the trigger. I don’t know how many shots I fired. I fell in a faint outside when Wyatt came out and took the revolver. I struggled to my feet and followed Wyatt to the street where I saw a. man lying on the footpath. I took the revolver from Wyatt and ran to the police station.” The accused was committed for trial at the Supreme Court next month.