THREAT WITH GUN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 1939, Page 6

THREAT WITH GUN

TAXI-DRIVER’S ALARMING EXPERIENCE '

MAN BROUGHT BEFORE COURT IN CHRISTCHURCH.

REMANDED FOR. MEDICAL EXAMINATION.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. "Drive to the North Beach, or I'll blow your brains out” —A startled Christchurch taxi- driver turned round in his seat, to gaze down the single

barrel of a sawn-off shotgun. This occurred at 10.45 yesterday morning. For the next hour, the taxi-driver, Mr H. M. Keith, had one of the most sensational and terrifying experiences of its kind the city has known. Behind him was an armed man, holding a gun in one hand, and gripping a woman by

the wrist with his other hand. Al: about 10.30 yesterday morning the man approached Mr Keith and asked to be taken for a drive. At the corner of Armagh and' Colombo streets, the stranger nicked ini Iwo women. One sat in the seat with the driver, and the other got in the back with the stranger. "Go on, make for the beach,” the man ordered the driver. Once over Barbadoes Street, the man changed his mind, and ordered the driver to take him to St Albans. The car stopped there, and the woman in front got out. The man tried to persuade the woman in the back to go to North Beach. She got out, talked for a moment or two with her friend, and then got back into the car. She asked to be driven to the Square. Not half a block had been covered, when 11m man at the back snapped out: "Driver, I’ve got a sawnoff shotgun here. Drive Io North Bencli. or I’ll blow'your brains out.” Tiie drive)- turned and saw the gun pointing at 'him. “I did not know what to do," he said, •‘He had a firm grip of the woman’s right wrist, while he held the shotgun with his right hand. I drove slowly | on, playing for time. I made towards I lhe beach. 1 kept looking to the right

and left in Hie hope of attracting help.” After being warned not. to look to the right or left, Mr Keith asked:— “What are you going to do when you get to the beach.” “I am going to commit suicide.” was the reply. The man added that he was going to have a yarn with his wife first. Eventually the man was persuaded by the taxi-driver to hand over the gun and ammunition. Mr Keith then drove his two passengers back to town and later informed the police who ar-

rested the man at his home. In the Magistrate's Court this morning Alan Stuart McLachlan, aged 28. described as an electric welder, of Edgeware Road, was charged with being a rogue and a vagabond in that he was armed with a gun with felonious intent. MvLachlan pleaded guilty, and after evidence had been heard, the Magistrate, Mr E. C. Levvey, granted a remand until February 13 to . allow medical observation of the accused.