LOADED RIFLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 November 1941, Page 5

LOADED RIFLE

PRESENTED AT CONSTABLE OTAUTAU INCIDENT. ACCUSED SENT TO GAOL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, .November 5. Sentence of one month’s imprisonment was imposed by Mr Abernethy, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court in Otautau today on Patrick Joseph Sheedy, aged 35, hauler driver, on a charge of presenting a firearm at Constable A. C. White. He was also charged with carrying an automatic rifle except for some lawful, proper and sufficient purpose. He was discharged on this count. When the constable went to a house in Otautau on the evening of Labour Day accused, it was stated, came to the front door carrying the rifle, and is alleged to have said: “This rifle is loaded and cocked and I’ll fire.” The constable and Sheedy went on to the road, where another constable and a traffic inspector were seated in a car, and, after some discussion, Sheedy'was persuaded to hand the rifle over to the constable.

One witness for the prosecution said that on the way to the police station witness said it was fortunate no one had been shot. Accused remarked that he could not have been hanged; he could only have received life imprisonment. In his evidence accused said he went to the door and saw the constable. Accused was carrying a rifle with the barrel pointing down. He told the constable the rifle was loaded. He handed over the rifle’when asked. He said he did not threaten the constable or point the rifle at him. The magistrate remarked that if the constable had lost his head there might have been ? serious crime on accused’s hands.