TANGARAKAU SHOOTING

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1926, Page 9

TANGARAKAU SHOOTING

ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. REMANDED IN CUSTODY. (From Our Own Reporter.) At the Stratford Court yesterday, Stanley Emerson Carlyle Taylor, farmer, of Tahora, was charged with attempting to murder James Farreily at Tangarakau on the morning of last Sunday. On the application of the police, accused, after legal argument, was remanded to appear at Stratford on Friday, November 19, bail being withheld in the meantime. Mr. A. Coleman, who appeared for accused, applied for bail, quoting section 368 of the Crimes Act, which vested discretionary power in the court to grant bail even in the case of most serious offences —offences even more serious than that for which accused was at present charged. Though it was not the time nor the place to make statements, Mr. Coleman said it was fairly common knowledge that the ultimate charge was not likely to be so grave as the one under which accused was held. Authorities had laid it down that bail should be allowed except in cases where it was doubtful whether an accused would appear to stand his trial. In the case before the court, the accused w’as a young married man of good family, having a stocked farm. He was a man of good character with an interest in the country and an interest at stake. Therefore, it was not likely that accused would break his bond. Moreover, the persons willing to go surety were also men of substance and good standing in the community. If bail was withheld accused would be held possibly right up to next February, and his farm would suffer in consequence. Sergeant Reid stated that at the present time he was instructed to oppose the granting of bail. He had communicated with the doctor as late as 2 p.m. that day and had been informed that Farelly’s condition was still critical. In fact that he had shown no signs of mending. “In the event of anything happening to the injured man, what will be the result if accused is out on bail, asked the sergeant. The Magistrate: My difficulty is that I know nothing of the facts at present. Mr. Coleman: From general knowledge of the facts in the possession of the police, one would be led to expect , that the ultimate charge will be reduced. He suggested that, if granted bail, accused might be required to report twice daily, at least until Farrelly’s condition showed an improvement, or until the date of the remand which at this stage had been fixed for the 22nd inst. To Mr. Tate, Sergeant Reid agreed that the police knew nothing against the accused.

After further -discussion, it was agreed to alter the date of the remand to next Friday, when the doctor’s report could be made a factor in the question of bail.

Mr. Tate, in noting this arrangement, mentioned that an application for bail could be made at any time.