ALLEGED MURDEROUS ASSAULT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3300, 19 August 1911, Page 7

ALLEGED MURDEROUS ASSAULT.

A BELATED TRIAL. [PEE PEESS ASSOCIATION.j PALMERSTON N.. August 18. John Owen, alias Doree, alias Rowe, alias - Lucy, remanded' from Auckland, was charged with attempted murder and committed for trial to-day. A. P. Easton, farmer, deposed that he employed him from April 15th, 1906, at_ £7 per week. He went away on business, and on his return was informed that the new man had not done much work. Accused was told he would have to do more work. He then cursed and swore, showed fight and demanded money. Witness got his cheque book, ,but accused refused a cheque. He obtained a gun and cartridges and demanded money, the proceeds of a pig sale, from his employer. Witness safd no money had been received yet, but at the point of the gun was made to turn out his boxes, etc. Accused then threatened to shoot him and burn down his house. He fired at witness, but the gun’ misfired. He then tried to strike him with an axe, but Easton warded off the blow. Easton succeeded in escaping and returned later to his whar© with the police, when they found the gun and cartridges. Mrs Sarah Wyeth and John Wyeth, Foxton, deposed that they saw a man very like accused, who 6aid he had 1 shot Easton,

Accused was arrested' by Detective Issell, at Auckland, and he states in defence that Easton attempted to assault him at Palmerston North.