PROTECTION FROM ROBBERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 254, 24 October 1905, Page 2

PROTECTION FROM ROBBERY.

USING FIREARMS* IN THE STREET.

, Albert Gabriel, a restaurant keeper, pleaded not guilty in the Police Court to-day to a charge of firing a pistol without reasonable cause in Albert street. He was prosecuted by the police and defended by Mr. J. C. Martin. James'Butler,awaiter, stated that on the night of October 16 he saw Gabriel fighting "V.ith'. another man in Albert street. There were several other men about,-arid the.,witness believed they took a hand in~the fight. He heard a pistol s hot, biit, could not Bay who fired the weapon.'.• * V *',"• ''.' , ; Evidence ..given by Constable Mulloly showed that, Gabriel'admitted to him that he fired the pistol. The defendant's explanation at the tithe was that four or five'men •••rushed'' him, and he fired to frighten them, as he was afraid they were going to rob'him of £130 worth of money and -jewellery, which he Was carry- :.-'•■'' -' - - ;'- ---" Gabriel gaye- evidence, repeating the statementi-p.'ide to r the constable, and asauring the magistrate, Mr. C. C. Kettle, that he. the pistol because men had previously followed... him, and he fWred to rob him. . '-■'-" "You did a very reasonable and proper thing," declared His' Worship, who diam \f..aA the information.