THE HAMILTON SHOOTING CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2740, 19 February 1910, Page 3

THE HAMILTON SHOOTING CASE.

SENSATIONAL STATEMENT BY THE ACCUSED. [Per Press Association.] HAMILTON, Feb. 18. John Minton Panll, who was arrested in .connection witli the shooting case at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton, on Tuesday, .February Btli, when Messrs W. L. Ward and L. Jordan, bank officials, were fired at while conveying money from Hamilton to Ohaupo, appeared on remand this morning on a charge of attempted murder. The proceedings lasted all day, and closed this evening. Thirty witnesses were examined.

Leslie Jordan, who was shot on the occasion, gave evidence. Other witnesses deposed, variously, to seeing a man alleged to he the- accused in the vicinity of the creek with a gun. since traced’to have been previously in the possession of Panll. 'Pile, accused, when arrested, denied having been at the creek or having any knowledge of the occurrence. Evidence showed that ho told a stableman, when he hired a horse ou the Tuesdav. morning, that he was going to Te Rapa, and that the gun he was then carrying was to be mended. The evidence also showed that he was seen in a totally opposite direction from To Rapa.

Towards the close of the case, a somewhat sensational statement was put in, in which the accused alleged that he was coerced by certain Maoris and practically had to take a hand in the affair under pain of death. He states that he met the Maoris, one of whom said that their object was to waylay the bank officials and that, if he did not assist them on 'Tuesday, he would be a dead man. This was some days previous to February Bth. Pauli alleged that hei did not fire the shot which struck Air. Jordan, but that one of the Maoris, who afterwards went a-.vav, did so. The police evidence, however, showed that all endeavors to find the Maoris implicated had proved fruitless. The evidence of several witnesses- goes to show that no Maoris or others were about at the time Paul] was seen. The evidence of the doctor states that between 80 and 90 shots struck Mr. Jordan, some being still emljedded, and that he is suffering from facial paralysis.

Mr. McDiarmid, on behalf of the accused. said that no plea would' be entered at this stage. Detective Marsack said that it- was necessary to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. " ; Mr. McDiarmid still contended that he need enter no plea, and this being accepted, accused was committed for trial at the Hamilton Supreme Court sittings on the 28th inst.