ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 19 August 1911, Page 5

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

A PALMERSTON CASE. By Tel etrraph—Press Association. Palmerston N., Last Night. John Owen, alias Doree, alius Rowe, alias Lucy, remanded from Auckland, charged with attempted murder, was committed for trial Jo-day. A. P. Easton, a farmer, deposed that he employed Owen on April 15, lflOfl, at £1 per week. He went away on business, ami on his return was informed that the new man had not done much work. Accused -was told he would have to do more work. He then cursed, swore and showed fight and demanded his money. Witness got his cheque book, but accused refused a cheque. He obtained a gun and cartridges and demanded his money, the proceeds of the pig sale, from big employer. Witness said no money hod been received yet, but at the point of the gun lie was made to turn out his boxes, and accused then threatened to shoot him and burn down the house. He fired at witness, but the gun misfired. He then tried to strike him with an axe, but Easton warded off the blow. Easton succeeded in escaping, and returned later to the whare with the police, when they found the gun and cartridges Mrs. Sarah Wyeth and John Wyeth, of Poxiton, deposed that they saw a man very like accused, who said he had shot Easton.

Accused was arrested by Detective Issel, Auckland,

Accused states, in defence, that Easton attempted to assault him. '