ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3213, 12 June 1909, Page 5

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER.

A SINGULAR CASE. By Telegraph—Press Association. WANGANUI, June 11. m A very singular case has occupied the Supreme Court during the past two days. The circumstances are to tne following effect:—On Febtuary 22nd last two men n*med Amos Chatfield and Frederick Garlick left Ohutu for Taihape, a couple of miles distant. They were intimate friends, and Garlick accompanied Chatfield, at the latter's request. They intended to return heme in time to do milking about 8 o'clock at night. Garlick led Ch ufield's horse home,* and declarer! that he had thrown Chatfield into the Hautapu river. He was evidently drunk, and his actions during the next hour or so were of an exceptionael nature. He reiterated that he had kilted Chatfield, and threatened to kill Mrs Chatfield, whom he wanted to come in a cart and look for her husband. Eventually Garlick got his gun, and about ten o'clock was shot through the shoulder, the bone shattered and the flesh torn away. Witnesses declared that the wound was self inflicted. While Garlick was terrorising the vi'lage a partv had gone in search of Chatfield, and found him lying amongst shrubs some fourteen feet down the bank of the river. The shrubs had stopped his fa 1 over the precipice seventy feet deep. He was drunk, and„did not awaken till after he was pulled on to the road. The hats of both men were found lying on the road, and there were marks as of a man having.been dragged across the road to the edge of the bank. Jn Court Chatfield stated that when he'and Garlick reached Taihape they had some beer, but left for home quite sober, both being of temperate habits. Garlick bought a bottle of draught whisky* and this they drank going along the road. Chatfield had two drinks, and then lost consciousness, knowing nothing more till awakened by the rescuers. Garlick, in giving evidence on his own behalf, said that Chatfield got so drunk that he fell off his., horse. Garlick pulled him to the side of the road out of danger, and Chatfield then rolled over the cliff. Garlick tried to pull him up, but could not, and then at Chatfield's suggestion went for a cart, and Mrs Chatfield. From that point his mind was blank, and he knew nothing of his subsequent actions at Ohutu. The jury retired at 10 15 o'clock to-night, and after a half-an-hour returned a verdict of not guilty of atfempted murder. The jury are now considering an issue hearing on charges of attempted suicide and intimidation. Later. The jury found Garlick not guilty of intimidation and attempted sui- I cide, holding that he was not in a , rational state. Accused was then discharged. '