A GIRL AND A DENTIST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 205, 18 January 1913, Page 6

A GIRL AND A DENTIST.

"THAT WILL SETTLE .IT." KATHLEEN RYAN BEFORE THE COURT. CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. Auckland, January 15. At the Police Court to-day Kathleen Somerville Ryan (the young woman connected with the recent shooting episode), twenty-five years of age, was charged with attempting to murder .William James Colwell, dentist, by shooting at him with a revolver. The proceedings lasted the greater part of the day. Chief-Detective McMahon stated that the accused was in Colwell's employ from December, 1907, to July, 1908. Some time after she left she telephoned to him, and arranged to meet him at his rooms in Wellesley-street East, stating tiiat she would like to see him. After that he met her occasionally at his rooms and they became very friendly. These relations continued till about five months ago, when Colwell stated that the girl became a nuisance to him in her demands for money, and continually followed him about and accosted him. He told her that the friendship must cease, and she became, according to Colwell, more aggressive. About four months ago, when Colwell was spending a holiday at Waiwera. she telephoned to him, and later arrived there by a launch and demanded tc see him. She left by a steamer next day. -Shortly before Christmas he, by mutual agreement, paid to her mother in the presence of solicitors the sum of £8 10s, and the girl signed a document that she would refrain from interfering with him in future. But she became more attentive to Colwell than ever. "WILL YOU MEET ME?" Two days later, when he was going to his rooms in Smeeton's buildings, Queen street, about 10 o'clock in the morning, she met him on the landing of the first floor. She said, "Will you meet me to-night?" He replied 1 that he wished to have nothing more to do with her. Later, he received a telephone ring, asking him to meet her, and again he refused. She tried to see him two or three times daring the morning. About 11.30 a.m. he received a message from bis nurse that the accused would like to see him when he was disengaged. He met her at the waiting-room door, and she said she wanted him to meet her , that night. He replied that he had already said he didn't wish to have anything more to do with her. They talked there about ten minutes and she left, Colwell returning to the surgery. A few minutes later he received a message from Miss Somerville (the name by v#ch accused was known), wanting an answer. ' ''Yes" or "No," from him to her request. He told the nurse to say "No." Immediately after the nurse left he saw accus- j ed coming towards him, and he went in-1 to his office, where she followed him and closed the door. She was very excited and said, "We'll soon settle it now." , AT THE REVOLVER'S POINT. He sat in his seat, and she stood in the middle of the office and produced a revolver, saying, "Will you meet me? Yes or no?" He said, "Don't be silly; put it away." She cooled down, and put the revolver inside her coat. He left the office, but returned and found her standing there. He told her that if she didn't leave the premises he would l send for the police. She became excited again, and she walked towards his office chair. She must then have closed and locked the door. Colwell sat down, and tried to persuade her to leave. She again became excited, and refused. He got up and walked towards the door, saying he would send for the police. He was about to open the door when he felt something fly past his face and heard a report. He looked round and saw the girl about two yards away from him with the revolver in her liand. There was smoke in the room. He found the door was locked, and when he opened it his nurse and assistants were there trying to get in. The accused left the office by the side door, and was arrested upstairs. WILLIAM COLWELL'S CROSSEXAMINATION. William James Colwell, complainant, gave evidence at great length, which in the main was a repetition of the chief detective's narrative. Cross-examined by Mr. Grundy, witness said he had been in practice in Auckland about eleven years. He was not particularly friendly with accused when she was working with him, and it was about nine months after she left that she did become friendly. She left his employ because she did not get on well with the assistant. The moneys he had given her over a period of about two years amounted probably to £SO or £6O. The largest amount he had ever given her was £5, shortly before the holidays. In regard to the shooting incident witness denied that he had locked the door of his room himself. He concluded that the girl had done it because it was locked when he tried to get out. He admitted having promised to help her with money to start a business of her own. being forced to do so to keep her quiet, and that he had never kept his promise. WANTED HIM TO KISS HER. At one of their meetings she had asked him hysterically to part friends, and wanted him to kiss her. This was after the signing of the document, and it had never been arranged that it should be allowed to lapse between them. He denied that on one occasion when he had arranged to meet her at home at £> o clock lie arrived there a little before 10 o'clock in a drunken state. He did not recollect any evening particularly because lie saw her so frequently athome, but lie denied ever going there the worse for liquor, though he might have used bad language to the girl or her mother when lie was excited He had no recollection of having asked her if she had been out with another man when she had come into the house after his arnval. ]T e denied having ever struck the girl or her mother. Detective Hollis, Colwell's nurse and Ins caretaker also gave evidence. RYAN SENT TO SALVATION HOME. Mr. Grundy applied for bail. Chief Detective McMahon said the principal difficulty in the wav of allowing bail was the possibility that the "irl's state of mind towards Colwell was "such (hat it would not be safe to release her. Mr Grundy said that if -bail were allowed she would be looked after properly by her people, who would not allow her to see Colwell. Failing bail he asked that she should be sent to the Salvation Army Home. « _ The chief detective said that the officer in charge o: the Salvation Army Rescue Home had sl;ued that she would Guarantee to look after accused. 43 The Magistrate had a conversation vith accused to satisfy himself as to the best course to pursue, and decided to commit her to the Salvation Army Home e in VaS , b 4°, ll l d T er in lun ' own ' b ond of £lO and that of an adjutant of the home tor a like amount not ii, iU iv wav to attempt to see Colwell and not to leave the home unless accompanied by an offi ccr. and the adjutant was given author- | itj to ie\okc her bond at any time.