Petone Sensation.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1922, Page 4

Petone Sensation.

ACCUSED BEFORE COURT. | WELLINGTON September 4. | A sensational story was told of tlic shooting affray which occurred iu a coal yard at 39, Fitzherbent Street, Petone, on August 2-stli., at the Petone Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, when Benjamin Jones, a coal-dealer, appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., and was charged with attempting to murder Bert Spencer Morrison and Frederick Harrison, police constables. The prosecution was conducted by Senior Sergeant Bird, and Mr C. A. L. Treadwell appeared for the accused. I _ 1.1 . 1 f ~4- r. 4- A.l +ll o 1 ft.

l oSiil« 01 nisii ui.iiuns ft v 1.1• vu |M - * v * at 10 a.m. on August 25th. to the house of Benjamin .Tones, in company with Constable Harrison, his purpose being . to assist in the execution of a distress warrant for £3 19s Gd. Constable Harrison knocked at the back door, and got no reply. Harrison called out: “Arc you there, Jones?” .Tones replied: “Yes, I’m here,” and appeared at Che door. Harrison said. “You know what we have come for,” and commenced to read the warrant. J ones interrupted : "I know all about that. I don’t want to hear it. T’m not going to pay it.” Witness then walked over to the back of a lorry, and commenced to load the horse towards the gate. He got about to the front of the lorry with tbe horse. Jones who was about five yards from ' the front gate, held up his left hand ' and said: “Drop that horse.” Ac-

cused called out twice, and witness J went oil. when accused drew a revoli ver out of his right trouser pocket and ' fired point-blank at witness. Accused was about ten yards away. He sail the flash and heard the report, and 1 the horse jerked the chain out of his 1 hand. At the time witness was walking sideways with liis side facing Jones. He then made straight for Jones, and when he was about half way to him, j accused fired a. second shot at Harrison. I fie saw him point the revolver at Harrison, who was rushing towards Jones at the time.

MORE SHOOTING. The constables closed with Jones. Morrison landing on top. AYitness looked accused’s leg and held o*i for j his life. Accused struggled violently, j While on the ground, aroused worked I to get his finger round tV trigger of : his revolver, the point of which was pressing in witness’s stomach. Accused fired again, but witness could not see what happened. The revolver was shifi.i.l ii ,•i.iii.li'. of inches niid another shot

was fiml. Witness clawed the revolver out of Jones’s hand. On the way up accused was talking. He said to witness: “You ought to take off your coat and get work. The police are only a lot of , and they are shooting them every day in Belfast." He had called at Jones’s house nearly every ' day that week ; he had been there the previous day at 10 a.ill. when he saw ! Jones and explained about the warrant, recommending Jones to jiav without any trouble. Jones had replied : “You can bring wagon-thieves and law-break-

ers. and I’ll still refuse to pay. You can apply to old Hunt fora retrial. 1 want to go to a higher Court.” Witness told him he would he calling next day to execute the warrant, and accused said: “You can do what you like.” On being cautioned, accused said : “I did not intend to hurt anyone.” Me pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. An application for hail was refused.