AUCKLAND SHOOTING CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8122, 29 May 1906, Page 2

AUCKLAND SHOOTING CASE.

m PBBSB ABBOCIATIOS, - Aockiaxd, May 29. A youth named -George Hassett » pleaded not guilty, that he attempted, at Mount Eden on or about March 15tb?last, to cause actual bodily harm to Charles Hassett (his father) by di*. charging a loaded revolver at him. Mr C 3, Tonks appeared for the prisoner. Evidence was given by Charles Hassettyi to the effect that he had a dispute with his wife prisoner not getting , WOC,E ' wife were pushing each othoKut3nd prisoner then arrived, and entered the room with s loaded revolver. Witness and prisoner had had some angry words previous to the disturbance. Prisoner fired at witness' head, and the bullet was em. ,"1 bedded there still. l For the defence Mr Tonks said that the evidence for the prosecution was admitted, with the exception of "intent." The prisoner entered the house and saw his father pushing hia mother about, and with a view to frightning him, fired oyer his head, but unfortunately at that moment Hasset raised his head, and received the shot on the side of the head. m His Honor briefly addressed the T jury, remarking that it wu a caw for them to consider whether the prisoner had any intent when he fired at his father. It appeared to His Honor an easy matter to miss a person who was very close.' The jury, returned a. verdict that prisoner "fired carelessly,, . but without intent to do greviouT bodily harm." ' ' - ' His Honor; •> That is 'not guilty.' If those are the facts you find, you must return a verdlot of' net guilty.* The jury accordingly returned a rerdiet of ' not guilty,' and Hassett was disbursed. His Honor informed him that he had better be a little more care, fufin future, or he would end up in a very bad place. He oould not sea any excuse for Hassett shooting at his father. In making this remark he was not reflecting on the jury.