WELLINGTON BANDITS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1931, Page 6

WELLINGTON BANDITS

THREE MEN CHARCED.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 27

Inquiries by Detectives into ‘ the circumstances of the attempt to break and enter the Self Help Grocery Store at Petone last month, have led to the finding of forty-five automatic pistols, ammunition, two blugdeons and a black - mask. As a result, Leslie Gordon Clarke, aged 22, a seaman William Edward Brown aged 27, a cabinet maker and Sydney John Hodge aged 35, a carpenter were charged before Hr Page, S.M., to-day. Clarke pleaded guilty to assaulting James William Batten at Island Bay with intent to rob, also two charges of breaking, entering and theft and one of attempted breaking and entering, and be was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. He also pleaded guilty to having unlawfully in his possession an automatic pistol and ammunition.

The Magistrate said that be would adjourn this sine die and deal with it after Clarke had been before the Supreme Court.

Hodge pleaded guilty to attempted breaking and entering, and was commited for sentence.

Brown pleaded not guilty to one charge of breaking, entering, and theft and one of attempted breaking and entering. Ho-was committed for trial. Bail was allowed in £250. The circumstances of the assault were outlined in the evidence of Batten, a pawnbroker and jeweller, of Cuba- Street. He said that on July 30th., lie found his premises had been entered, and an attempt made to open the door leading into the main shop. He did not miss anything from the premises. On the night of September 2nd 1 ., lie was going home to Island Bay, at about 10.20. Walking along Derwent Street, towards the Esplanade. lie passed a man standing on the edge of the kerb. He walked on about twenty yards, and lie heard someone walking behind him. 'Suddenly he felt something going wrong with him. He did not feel anything but tried to collect his thoughts, and in doing so he turned round, .lust as he turned, someone hit him on the right .side of the head with sour? hea* v article. He only received one Mow, which out his face, lie enlleJ out and the man ran away.