A STARTLING INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1921, Page 5

A STARTLING INCIDENT.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER. “A BIT OF SHOOTING” By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. The charges against Arthur Joseph Milligan of the attempted murder of James Edward Ashley Perry and John Frederick Perry were heard at Milton this morning. James, a youth of 16 years, who married accused’s sister Gladys (aged 18) said there was some objection by the members of the Milligan family to the marriage. He heard accused say on the marriage night that he would wipe the six Perries and their father off the face of the earth by shooting them. On the evening of November 30 witness was standing at Joseph Hill’s gate with his wife, Mrs. Hill and two children. Accused got off his bicycle about ten yards from the gate, put a rifle to his shoulder, and fired. Just as he fired witness’ wife pushed him aside, and the shot missed. Another shot was fired as witness went towards the house. This struck him on the middle finger. He walked on to the verandah and beard his father say he too was hit.

John Perry, the father, also gave evidence that he heard Mrs. Hill screaming, and, running out, he was shot in the right shoulder. Joseph Hill stated that he called to accused to stop, but before he could get from the verandah to the gate accused fired two more shots. Witness chased him up the street. When he got near accused the latter turned and put the rifle to his shoulder and tried to fire. Thos. McCormack, fishmonger, stated that he was at his shop when he saw accused in the road with a rifle. Witness said: “What have you been doing?” Accused replied: “I have been doing a bit of shooting, and expect them any minute.” Witness said: “Who?” and accused replied, “Constable McQuilty.” Accused further said: “If the rifle had not jammed I would have done more.” Witness coaxed hirn to the shop and got the rifle. Constable McQuilty deposed that on the way to the station accused said that he took the rifle with eleven cartridges in the magazind with the intention of shooting John Frederick Perry, owing to a grievance between tfiem.

Accused reserved his defence, and was committed for trial in February. On the application of his counsel bail was fixed in two sureties of £lOO each, accused to report daily to a constable.