WAS "FOOLISH."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 224, 20 September 1940, Page 8

WAS "FOOLISH."

FIRED HIS RIFLE. YOUNG SOLDIER FINED. A young soldier attached to the home defence forces, Lewie Cooper Morton, who tried out the. rifie issued to him, found himself in the Police Court, before Mr. J. Moiling, S.M., on summons to-day on a charge that on August 10 he "discharged a firearm, a .303 calibre rifle, in Webber Street, and did endanger the. life of Albert David Barnett. Morton admitted the offence.-Sub-Inspector Calwell said that at 11.45 a.m. on August 10 Barnett called at the Gre.y Lynn police station and handed the constable a rifle bullet which he alleged had ricocheted from the gra<36 after hitting a rock near where he was standing. Inquiries disclosed that defendant was standing in the back door of his house some distance away, and that he fired a .303 rifle. He said he was trying out the rifle with an old cartridge which he said he dismantled, removing the bullet and replacing it with soap. "But this obviously was not done," said Mr. Calwell, who" produced the bullet.

Morton told the magistrate that' he did not think the bullet could do anv damage. He said he removed it and also tipped out all but about a quarter of the cordite. JTe considered it could not have endangered anyone's life as it would not have sufficient power. Mr. Morling, referring to the mark on the bullet, said it would appear that it did have sufficient power. "It was a very foolish thing of you to do, but I don't suppose you'll do it again," he said. A fine of 10/ and costs 15/ was imposed.