USE OF THE REVOLVER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9418, 13 June 1882, Page 3

USE OF THE REVOLVER.

The legality of defending oneself with a revolver is a point which has probably occurred to more than one resident of this city lately. Perhaps the citizens who are reporting to bo arming themselves for encounters with footpads and burglars, will be interested in the followwing paragraph from the London Daily News of March 9:—“ In London, as in Ireland, there seem to be cases in which a man must let his hands keep his head, and may even blamelessly defend himself with a revolver. In November last, one Edward Haplin gave evidence against a man named Howard atthe MiddelsexSessions. Haplin might almost as safely have paid his rent in County Clare. Since his discharge of a public duty the friends of Howard have stabbed him, knocked his teeth out and kicked him on the head. About a month ago Haplin s enemies surrounded him in a working men’s club it St. Luke’s. Like the Roman senators, as described in the translation of Mommsen’s ‘History of Rome,’ they charged with fury in their eyes, and the legs of tables, which they had broken for the purpose, in their hands. Haplin defended himself with a revolver, a policeman made a plucky rush at him, Halpin pulled the trigger, and the hammer of the pistol lighted on the policeman’s thumb. He was indicted at the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, before the Recorder for attempting to shoot with intent to murder. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and Halpin is a free man. But if witnesses in court are to be compelled to defend their lives with revolver it may soon prove difficult to get any evidence in certain cases.” —Exchange.