Offence Under Arms Act

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1921, Page 4

Offence Under Arms Act

NELSON. Aug. 2. Andrew Strand was charged with being in unlawful possession of ammunition for an automatic pistol. Counsel said that defendant was very well known to the Returned Soldiers' Association as a. man of very excellent character. Defendant was a foreigner wlm spoke English with some difficulty and there must have been a mutual misunderstanding between him and the sergeant of police. Defendant was a seaman. file went to register his pistol hut was unaware that the ammunition had to he handed in. When approached by a constable tho ammunition was immediately handed in.

A police wit lies said that objection was taken by the Police Department to defendant retaining tho pistol, as the report was not favourable. Crossexamined. tho witness said lie knew that defendant was horn in Denmark and was a. naturalised British subject. Constable Mackenzie said there was no evasion by defendant. A\ itness knew him as a mail of good character, with cood war service.

The Magistrate said it was quite clear that an offence had been committed, file took into account the fact that defendant was a man of good character mid nothing was known against him. He ordered Hie ammunition to he forfeited to the Crown and imposed a fine of l()w with 7s costs.