MAN WITH GUN GIVES POLICE ANXIOUS TIME

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1947, Page 5

MAN WITH GUN GIVES POLICE ANXIOUS TIME

DUNEDIN, Oct. 3. • The central figure in a series of sensational incidents in the city on Septem ber 25, Brian Patriek Michael Ward, aged 24, painter trainee, appeared in the Court and pleaded gnilty to charges of presenting a rifle at police ofiicers, the thoft of rifle accessories and othet goods and committing mischief. The police told the Court that Ward climbed on the roof of the Boman Oatholie Cathodrq.1 and fired three .shots from a heavy calibre rifle he had stolen. Fortunately no one was hit but one bullet smashed through the. window of the adjacent convent. Ward theu came down from the roof and tele-. [ihoued the police to say he was tho man they were looking for, aslcing that they send a plain elothes officer to bring him in. When a sergeant came on the scene Ward eovered him with the riflle and told him to return to the station as he had asked for a plain elothes man. Sergeant E. II. Clark telephoned for reinforcement and when Detective M. Brown arrived Ward also pointed the rifle at him. Detective Brown, however, managed to get the weapon from him not knowing till theu that it was unloaded. The police added that Ward had not licen at work that dav but had been drinking in hotels. Ward, whose conduct was described by counsel as incomprehensible, was remanded in custody until Monday to onable a medical report to be submitted.