NAPIER SHOOTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 October 1938, Page 6

NAPIER SHOOTING

MRS AVES IN CRITICAL CONDITION YOUNG MAN BEING HELD BY POLICE. STATEMENT BY INSPECTOR. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) NAPIER, This Day. Mrs Isabella Annie Aves is lying in the Napier Public Hospital in a critical condition, with a rifle wound received in her home in Ferguson Avenue, West Shore, last night. A man who gave himself up to the police at about midnight is being held in custody. Three minutes after midnight last night, a young man walked into the Napier Police Station and informed the officer on duty, Senior-Sergeant H. Pender, and Constable F. Harding, that the police were “looking for him.” Two minutes later, while the SeniorSergeant and the constable were questioning the man, a telephone message was received from Dr D. Allan Berry that a woman had been admitted to hospital in a serious condition, suffering from a rifle wound. It was stated that the woman, was Mrs Aves.

Inspector D. Cameron was notified and investigations were immediately commenced. It was learned from inquiries this morning that Mrs Aves is suffering from a severe wound in the epigastric region, involving the liver and stomach. An operation was performed at two o’clock this morning, but fears are entertained for Mrs Aves’s life. It is understood that the operation failed to reveal the bullet which caused the wound. Mrs Aves is 51 years of age. According to a statement made this morning by Inspector Cameron, it is believed that the weapon from which the bullet was fired was a small calibre rifle. Immediately the police were advised of Mrs Aves’s admission to hospital, Detective-Sergeant H. Nuttall and Detective K. Mills were notified and commenced investigations. Constable R. J. Sutherland, of Port Ahuriri, took control of Mrs Aves’s residence at West Shore. Sergeant W. O’Donnell and Constable J. Williamson, Port Ahuriri, Constable D. Walden, Bay View, and Detective-Ser-geant L. B. Revell and Detective H. Campin, of Hastings, arrived shortly afterwards to assist in the investigations.

“Further developments are possible during the course of the day,” said Inspector Cameron, when questioned. “In the meantime, the young man is remaining at the Police Station. The injured woman, who has been operated upon, is now in a critical condition.”

It is understood that the young man who is now being held by the police is a resident of Waipawa.