A CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 2999, 23 September 1908, Page 5

A CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION.

A MAN FOUND SHOT.

BY TiLKGUAPH —■I'REKS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, September 22. Just on midnight last night, two men cycling home past Cranmer Square heard groans from the side of a tree near the footpath. On alighting they found a young man lying on the grass in great agony. He complained that he had been shot by a man whom he could not identify. One of the men (Baggs) saw that the wounded man's vest near the heart was smouldering near a bullet hole. He at once extinguished the incipient fire. The other man (Hornibrook) called the police ambulance and Dr. Irving. The young man injured gave his name as Charles Bryenton, and his story was that he lived with his mother in Peterborough street, and had gone to Cranmer Square to meet a young man, but could not say who he was. While sitting on the end of at bench waiting for the man he expected, another man wearing olue goggles came up, from behind and accosted him. After a question' as to who he was waiting for, the man with the goggles shot Bryenton. The latter said he was shot from behind, but the wound was plainly visible in the breast. A search in the vicinity resulted in the finding of a box of fifty cartridges, from which five had been taken. These were accounted for by being found in a revolver picked up a few yards off. One cartiiJge had been fired; and three others had apparently missed fire. Bryenton was wearing a coat and a great coat, but neither was touched by the bullet. Dr. Irving said the bullet had glanced off the rib; otherwise it would have caused death at once. Bryenton was taken to the hospital, but is not expected to live. The story told by hi -n is doubted.

MAN ADMITS HE SHOT HIMSELF.

\ Later. Bryenton admits he shot himself. He said so to a detective this morning, adding that the story of the man with green goggles was untrue. Bryenton made the following statement to Detective Kennedy, which he signed:—"l, Charles Bryenton, admit that the statement I made to a Sergeant of Polic3 last night was not true. I shot myself because I was despondent. I sent the postcard the detective showed me to my brother, which showed him my intention. I make this statement voluntarily." It is understood that Bryenton has been greatly, troubled over his financial affairs.' He recently figured in Court proceedings, and an order was made against him for the payment of a certain amount. He had got behind in his payments, und was beingpressed to square up the avr.ars Dr. Croke, house surgfcun at thu hospital, states that the man k still in a I very critical condition. He is in too I low a state to permit of an operation being performed to extract the bullet. Bryenton slept soundly during the afternoon.