A DETECTIVE WOUNDED.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1922, Page 4

A DETECTIVE WOUNDED.

THE HAMILTON SENSATION. ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE TRIAL IN SUPREME COURT. By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Hamilton, Last Night. At the Police Court to-day, William Alexander Crossan, a young man, was charged with attempting to murder Detective Lambert, with discharging a . loaded revolver at Leo Jury, and with breaking and entering and* theft (five charges). Detective Lambert gave evidence that he investigated burglaries in Hamilton, and went to the Frankton Junction railway station, where he saw accused, who admitted stealing the boots which he was wearing. Subsequently witness searched accused's room and found a sandbag, a jemmy, pliers, cartridges, and also stolen clothing, which accused admitted stealing. In reply to questioning, accused said a revolver stolen from the Metal Stores was hidden in a gully at Tamahere, four miles out, and a party went out in a car driven by Leo Jury. They searched *for the revolver without success and witness gave orders to leave for the return to Hamilton. Witness and Constable Sutton were getting under a fence rail when accused. without warning, said “Put your hands up,” and produced a revolver. Witness was advancing upon accused when the latter told him to stand or he would shoot. Witness told accused not to be silly and continued to advance. Accused then ordered Jury to get into the car, but Jury ran away, nnd accused pointed the revolver at him and pulled the trigger, but the weapon failed to discharge. Juty called out: “It’s all right, it's not loaded.” Accused answered, “Isn’t it,” and fired a shot into the ground. Witness by this time had approached within three feet and made an attempt to secure the revolver. He secured a light hold on the weapon when accused again ordered him to stand off and threatened to shoot, adding that he was desperate and did not want to live.

Accused then wrenched the revolver from witness’ light grasp, stepped back a few paces and fired, shooting witness in the abdomen. The shot was a deliberate one and there could be no suggestion that the revolver went off accidentally during the struggle.' After firing the shot accused bolted up the hill, but he was caught by the police. In answer to a question witness said accused was perfectly sober, cool and collected the whole time. Dr. Gower said the bullet in Detective Lambert had not been located, but the injury was consistent with having been shot. Corroborative evidence was given by Constable Sutton, who said that accused admitted afterwards having had the revolver all the time. He said he loaded it in the lavatory of the Royal Hotel, where he was allowed to go on the way out to Tamahere. Accused pleaded guilty to the burglary and theft charges and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of the attempted murder of Detective Lambert and to discharging a revolver at Leo Jury. He reserved his defence and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, A charge of having an unregistered firearm in hte possession w*as held over.