THE ARMS LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1921, Page 5

THE ARMS LAW.

A SEAMAN PROSECUTED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyrlgrr. Nelson, Last Night. Andrew Strand was charged at the Magistrate’s Court to-day with being in unlawful possession of ammunition for an automatic pistol. Counsel said defendant was very well known to the Returned Soldiers’ Association as a man of very excellent character. Defendant was a foreigner who spokte English with some difficulty, and there must have been mutual misunderstanding between him and the sergeant. Defend- ; aut, who was a seaman, went to register the pistol, but was unaware <nat ammunition had to be handed in then. When approached by a constable the ammunition was immediately handed in. The police said objection was taken by the Police Department to the dciendant retaining the pistol, as the report on him was not favorable. The police knew defendant was born in Denmark and was a naturalised British subject. The Magistrate said it was quite clear that an offence had been committed. He took into consideration the fact, that defendant was a man of good character, i.nd nothing was known against him. He ordered the Ammunition to be forfeited to the Crown, and imposed a fine of ten shillings and seven shillings costs.