COULDN'T FIRE PISTO[?]

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 19 March 1927, Page 7

COULDN'T FIRE PISTO[?]

Press Association.)

INTERESTING FIREARMS

.(Pe-e

NELSON, Last Night, The unusual spectacle of a police constable endeavouring to fire an automatic pistol with certain ammunition formed an interesting fieature in connection with the sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Collingwood. The weapon failedi to discharge the ammunition in question but the spectators, judging by their attitude, feared more than the discharge in the ordinary way. The incident occurred in a case in which Chas. Glass, of Bainham, farmer was charged with (1) Being in possession of two automatic pistQls; (2) Being in possession of a quantity of ammunition expressly intended and adapted for use in an automatic pistol; (8) Being found in possession of an unregistered douhle barrelled breach-loading shotgun; (4) Being in possession of an unregistered firearm, a Remington repeater rifle, contrary to the Arm^ Act, 1920. Counsel for defendant pleaded guilty to all charges save. that of havihg ammunition especially fmtended for use in an automatic pistol. He explained that defendant was a main body man who had gone through the war to the last day, and who had acquired automatic revolvers in France as souvenirs. The defendant had used all the ammunition he had taken from France for use in the automatic revolver in ' giving an exhibition to his friends. Constable Joss deposed that this was not so. He said the ammunition found fitted automatic revolvers and could be used for them. Counsel strenuously denied this | and applied to the Court for an i order that the constable be orderj ed to fire the automatic pistol. This was granted and the Court j and spectators* adjourned for the | purpose. | When after several tries the i constable signally failed to fire the ! automatic pistol counsel contended | that as the tests had failed, there 1 was norproof that this ammunition | w^s intended for use in an automai tic revolver. The Magistrate, Mr T. E. Maunsell, I upheld the contention. He made an | order for the forfeiture, of the re- > I volvers,. and imposect a ilne of £2 ! I on charges of having them. He ( ! stated that had the ammunition I fitted the revolvers he would have | i imposed a very severe "penalty in- j ; deed. Qn the other two charges j ; he copvicted the defendant and ; I fined him £1, but rpfused to make ! an order for forfeiture. John R. Haldane, of Bainham, was J also charged with being in posses- : sion of an unregistered automatic ! revolver. - | Counsel explained defendant had \ acquired three German automatic j revolvers in France, and on his re- j turn, at once registeredTas owner of | two, giving one to his brother who j neglected to register it. Defendant ! had taken the responsibility of keeping the revolver in his own house. On this charge the defendant /was convicted and fined £2 and costs.