UNREGISTERED REVOLVER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20014, 12 August 1939, Page 16

UNREGISTERED REVOLVER

SEQUEL TO HOLD-UP

TWO MEN FINED

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, uiis day.

Some time ago there was a serious hold-up in the city in which an employee at a service station was injured. Inquiries into the matter brought to light the existence ot a revolver and two persons who had no connection with the crime but with equally no right to the firearm.

While visiting his home at Nelson Leslie Jack Gould came into possession of it and eight rounds of ammunition. He brought it to Wellington Where he later sold it to Basil Ernest David Johnson-Barrett who, after a couple of practise shots, buried it in the backyard of a house at Ngalo where he was working at the time. *

When interviewed by the police, he said he bought the weapon with the intention of holding up a Chinese pack-a-poo den, but on reflection abandoned the idea. for him he was before the Supreme Court in August, 1937, for robbery under arms! Gould had also been previously before the court on a charge of conversion. Dealing with the accused who were charged, Johnson-Barrett with being ir. possession of a revolver without a permit and Gould with selling it, the magistrate, Mr. J. H. Luxford, said that in view of the circumstances disclosed, he would not impose prison terms. He fined the former £5 and the latter £3 and •forfeited the weapon and amuhition.