WEIRD GUNS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 213, 3 May 1932, Page 2

WEIRD GUNS

INGENIQUS WEAPONS TO FIRE SANDi AND PEPPER EXHIBITS IN COURT BIRMINGHAM. A revolver that fired pepper or sand, another fitted with knife blades which sprang out when the trigger was pressed, and a walking-stick with a bayonet-like spike and projecting nails. These formed part of an amazing collection of weird weapons, the uses of which a detective explained to a Birmingham magistrate. Before the court was William Jones, 70, a t'nplate worker, of Eversley Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. He was charged with threatening to murder his wife, and also with having two revolvers without a certificate Detective-Sergeant Cross, applying for a remand so that Jones might be seen by the prison doctor, told the court that Jones came to the police station and complained that his house had been broken into, a box forced, and a revolver stolen. The wife, he went on, admitted breaking open the box and taking the two revolvers. She said her husband had held one in front of her and threatened to shoot her. Detective-Sergeant Cross then produced the following weapons:— A revolver, charged with wads and pepper and a blanlc cartridge. When fired pepper was discharged. A second revolver, fitted with three knife blades, which sprang out when the trigger was pressed. One blade might be used as a bayonet, and another was hooked as if for ripping. The revolver was loaded with two ball cartridges. A walking-stick, to which was at-. tached a piece of wire with a weight which might be swung around. At the end of the stick was a spike. A home-made pistol from which pepper or sand could be discharged, and the pressure of the trigger of which liberated a knife blade. To this pistol was also attached a wire weighted with lead. A metal tube for discharging sand or pepper, and with a number of spikes fitted at the 'end, so that if the sand attack failed, an opponent might run on to the spikes. Another walking-stick with a long spike at the end, which might be used for a bayonet, and with protruding nails, so that if seized the nails would stick in the opponent's hands. Magistrate: Has. he taken out any patent rights for any of these thmgs? — Clerk: Is he expecting to be attacked ? — Detective-Sergeant Crossi I think it is a case for a doctor. . Jones stated he "was given the