ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO SHOOT A CONSTABLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1644, 8 October 1887, Page 3

ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO SHOOT A CONSTABLE.

Inteecabgill, Oct. 6. Martin Johnston, a farmer at Langridge, was charged at the Police Court to-day with attempting to discharge a gun at Constable Griffiths. Accused is a settler in the district rated for the Waimea Plains Railway, and holds very strong opinions as to the injustice of the rale, so much so that he wrote to the Government some months ago on the subject, and expressed an intention to shoot anyone who came to enforce payment of the rate from him. The law took its course, and the constable went to accused’s farm on Wednesday to distrain at the instance of the Railway Company for rates, for which judgment had been given. The constable said he would seize the horses with which Johnston was ploughing, and he replied that if be touched them he would blow his brains out. After the horses were unyoked accused repeated his threat. He afterwards calmed down a bit, and went into his house. The constable followed him, and on looking in saw accused take down a double .barrelled gun from the wall and bring it to the ready* pointing it at him. Hearing a click of one of the hammers he sprang on Johnston, got hold of the gwn with one hand, and caught him round the body with the other. After a struggle, he threw Johnston, and holding him on the ground passed the gun to a man who had been away watering horses. Caps were then removed, and on examination both barrels proved to be loaded with heavy ahot Accused having only just been brought in from the country he was remanded till the 12th inst.