ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1751, 16 June 1888, Page 2

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ghriatcburcbj on Wednesday! before Mr R. Beetham, R.M., Thomas Henley and Patrick jHenley, father;and son, were brought up on remand, charged with having, fired a gun at Peter Sinclair, with ittent to murder, on May 28th, at Shand'a Track, and were committed for trial at the ribxt sitting of the Supremo Court. The younger prisoner was liberated on bailtwo suretiesof £75 each. Mr Sinclair was for some, time, a resident in the Teinuka district, where he filled the position of Overseer to the Temoka Road Board. His evidence will doubtless be of Inttrest *—' ;'* j; f? ZJi #% Peter Sinclair, Clerk to the Springe Raard Board, deposed that be lived in a house belonging to' the Board near tbe Road Board Office,, Bpringstoo, some fifteen chaiuP away. Oa tbonight of May 25th the office was burnt down. Chief Detective Neil came/up on the 28th to make enquiries .about it. Witnesa went j with him tp Henley's house about noon, i Detective Neil .knocked, aad they were admitted. ' Youcg 'Henley was there. " Henley, senr., asked them what they • wanted. Detective Neil asked him if he was at Springsloo ihe previous Friday jD/ghti -Henley said, " Who saw me? Did this man (meaning witness) sand ,you t" iDetectiye .^eil, ■- said, "He did not." Henley said that witness blamed )iim for getting,up,a,petitioD, and added, ."If you doa!t clear but I'll drop yon," «nd made towards witnesa Nei! stopped between (hem, and reo>tnmended the prisoner to be calm. Henley rushed into tbe next room, young Henley then caught, bold of witness and "shoved" him out of the house... When at the door,

toWMrs Henley to tell Henley that he never blamed bun for the petition. Witness ti ent towards the corner of the house, and i»w Ben!«-y, sen., coming from the back; he had a doudle-barrelled gun in his hand ; be Mid, ••I'll diwp.you." <, Wiwess went b-ck towards the front door for cover. Henley fellowefl, took aim, snd fired at witness jaitaihe was entering the house door. ■ The shot struck witness in the left leg ' below the knee. Witness reiramed in the house for a.few moments, and looking • through the window saw Henley poinf in K the eon at Detective Neil, who was 'between the door and Henley. Henlsy •aid, "I will drop you, too.' Witness went outside. Henley had goue round to the back. Witness went towards tbegate, and Henley fired again. Some of the •hot struck witness in the thigh ; he ca led .-.'oat that he was shot again, and asked Detective Neil te take the gun from ,h.m and arrest him. Detective Neil got hold ©f Henley, aud both went inside the house. Witness returned to the house and assjste.l the detec'ive, wbo was ■trttgglinjß »i»h the two Henley* and Mrs Henley. Witness got hold of the gun and wrenched it from Henley, senior. Henley,: junior, then took the fun from witness. Hen lay, senior, got bold of him by the whiskers. Witness* struck Henley in the face. . Henley, junior,, struck witness ox the head from behind. Henley, senior, again got hold oT witness, who threw him behind, the , door. Henley, junior, again struck witness, and kicked him on thp - founded leg. Witness then went outside. '• ' Hsnley, junior, followed witness, who "• lay down in some straw outside. Wijuess *o call the boyj who had charge of witness.' trap a little'way, of., Young Henley said, •' Go to -, —, - you and the boy." Detective Neil then ' took the witness away. [A quantity of : the clothing worn,by witqess at the;time then put in.] beenjcon- •'" fined to bed sipce, up to Monday .'lart,. The first shot wsa.ainaed, at , jritness,' who £ i did npt/sse-the sscoridi onej JSred. -Qrpasexamined; Wi'ne's. began to make en- " quiries about the fire on the morning jafter it occurred. Henley's house is four miles - fr6m the Road Board office. Witness subfecttd Henley, senior, about the fire.: He and another m«n measured some hbises found near the fire, andlcoin-, pared them with others discovered all; •long the road coming into Henley's gate. Thetfacke were measured with ml© and--1 oallipers. ' When Detective Neil and. wit* >■''<- sees went to Henley's house it, was with ' the intention of, measuring the shoes on , ,'Henfey'e hoise., ;,jl petition, praying the Roatfjioard to remove witness from his position, was once got up, but witness did not ftlame/ Henley as the, originator. After the 'shots were fired there was a general struggle, in the house. WitDeaß threw Henley, senior, down, and kicked ! him while down. Before Henley begat" the row be ordered witness out of the house ; witness, without remark, rose to r • go, but before he could, get out Henley ••made at"! him, and afterwards there, waa not time to clear out, ana witness was disinclined to leave Detective Neil.—ls cross-sxamination Detective Neil said he had no warrant with him.—The defence was reserved. ~ j .