BRANDISHED FIREARM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 576, 31 January 1929, Page 1

BRANDISHED FIREARM

MAN CAUSED STIR IN STREET STOLE FROM EMPLOYER Watched by many people, William Harold Cosgrove, a 50-year-old labourer, stood at the corner of Hobson and Wellesley Streets and flourished a revolver. This morning Cosgrove was in the Police Court, charged with being in unlawful possession of a revolver. He pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said that it was fortunate that the revolver was not loaded. “Cosgrcve took the firearm from his employer, but he Is not charged with theft,” Mr. McCarthy said. “He was drunk and caused a commotion iu the streets. He told the police a story about finding a parcel near Luna Park, but the weapon was traced to the owner, Cosgrove’s employer. ft is easy to get ammunition and the weapon is particularly dangerous.” Cosgrove was fined £5, in default three weeks' imprisonment. Mr. McCarthy said the man had no chance to pay. MAN WITH LIST FOUND WITH REVOLVER Roland George Collins pleaded guilty in the Police Court this morning to the unlawful possession of a firearm. Detective-Sergeant Kelly said that two detectives visited Collins's room last night and arrested him. They found a .32 revolver. Collins, who was middle-aged, told the detectives that he bought the revolver from a man in the street last Christmas. “There has been no time to trace the weapon,” Mr. Kelly said, “but the police would like to find out how this man got the revolver. Only this man’s long list prompts me to ask for a remand.”’ Collins's explanation was that he had bought the revolver but had not registered it out of “pure neglect.” Bail was refused and Collins was remanded for a week for sentence.