PECULIAR CONDUCT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1924, Page 1

PECULIAR CONDUCT

HKYOI.YKIi LEVELLED AT AlOTOlt IST. AFCI\ LAND, November 10. The unusual eondiiet of Lawrence dames Prenilergast, aged in Albert street last night was responsible for 1 1 i.s appearance at the .Magistrate's Court today charged with assaulting Benjamin Augustus Berry, and also with presenting an unloaded revolver at Berry.

Senior-Sergeant Hawlo said that last night when Berry, a motor-car salesman , returned to Piillan and A I'iuilngc's garage l , he pulled up fur an attendant to open the gale*. While waiting (he l ; he noticed a man coining towards him. Accused placed his left hand on the door of the ear and said: “Now what about it?” Accused drew a revolver from his pocket and pointed if at Berry, who caught hold of accused's wrist and gave it a turn, the revolver falling on the lloor of lln 1 ear. Merry then got hold of the revolver and put it in his pool et. .Vs tt cl " a t hen handed over l<> a poln email. Ilerrv said he thought aoiiised had a wicked motive in his mind when he pointed the revolver at him. Air Butler, for the accused, entered a plea of guilty to- both charges. ’I he revolver (produced) did not contain either a hammer or a cylinder to hold cartridges. Yesterday accused, who liacl been up till recently practising as a. solicitor, had a little too much li(|iior. Counsel would admit that a technical assault had been committed, hut excused it as a drunken freak and joke on I'renchTgasl’s part. Tt was a silly thing to do. hut accused had borne a good c haracter, and had never been heI'or the Court before.

Scnlor-f-iei-ge.int Ifawlc j>i ii 11 1 <-<l out that tin; 1-nVr t of presenting :i revolver without n cylinder or luunmer was tlio 51:11111; ns if 11 roil I miloiuleil weapon had heen presented to Harry. It was just a i|iiestion for the Court as to whether the revolver mine within the meaning of the Arms Act. and as to whether it should be eniiiiscntcd. Mr llutler: We will make you a present of the weapon.

Mr .1. W. I’oynton S.M. : That is not the point. The police do not rare whether they yet the revolver or not. It is a ease of man pointing a weapon at a man and .terrifying him. Hen ry iliil not know at the time that the revolver was not u complete weapon. Iho charge of present inn an unloaded revolver will he dismissed, hut on the first eh a rye licensed will la* lim'd £0 in default 1 I days.