QUEEN-STREET INCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 163, 10 July 1907, Page 5

QUEEN-STREET INCIDENT.

A <JAME OF "BLUFF." GOLD CHAINS IN CHEAP LOTS. Henry Bloustein, remanded from Monday on a charge of threatening his brother, Solomon Bloustein, .with a revolver ■in Queen-street on Saturday night, was before the Court again this morning.

Solomon Bloustein related how, on the evening of the 6th inst., his* brother entered the shop in -which he was employed witfe his hand in his pocket. Suddenly Ec pulled_ it out, and, waving a revolver, exclaimed, "I'll shoot you, I'll shoot you," iri" a very excited state. Mr. Hendry: Were you nervous? —Oh, no, not at all. I didn't -want a scene, however, so I said, "Go out, go out to the back," and I bustled him out of the shop. Continuing, the witness said that he was going down Queen-street in the evening when he saw his brother again, standing on the kerb, this time with both hands in bis pocket. This time witness took no chances, but reminded a constable that trouble might be coming along, .and then, with his assistance, secured his brother's hands -while a- revolver and some cartridges were removed from his pocket. The weapon in question was produced. Mr. Lundon: This was twenty minutes after he left the shop. Witness: Your Worship. I thought I was doing, him a good turn. And you grabbed him from behind in such a way that he cried out, ""Police"? No. I didn't know how desperate he might, be. But I wasn't a bit afraid of him, I can tell you. I was raver alarmed, but not frightened. Did-your brother let you have' material to make gold chains at a shilling a time ? What has*this got to do with it? Did he let you have the chains? Your Worship, these chains are my own invention. I have an order now for 15 dozen. Did you get 9~ dozen from him on July 2? —Wait a minute, I am not going to be bustled like tnis. Never" mind waiting. Did you get them,?— Yes, I did. At. what price? Was it at a shilling each?— Yes. And what did he make? — it l_d each J- —Well, if it was, it -was sweating. And did he not give''you a gross of these gold chains for £6?— Yes. And -so practically presented you with £1 4/. At ihis stage the witness appealed against the introduction of private business, and set off to explain that his Brother was troubled with a complaint called the ''Zealandia gambling fever." Mr. Lundon: Did you know that he bought the revolver because he considered he had been swindled by someone, and intended to get to the bottom of it?—Oh, yee, he did say something about the boys having got down on him while * playing cards or something. And has he not bought clothes for you? —What do you mean? ' Has he ever paid for suit lengths for you? —Now, what do you think you are going to get out of mc now.? Answer.—Well, I don't know what you want. I got him a passage for Sydney. That's not the suit length; did he pay for it?—Oh, well, have your way then. Yes. Addressing the Bench, the complainant then appealed to their Worships to put the defendant under restraint, as it was no joke. He didn't want to prosecute, but this sort of business was too much of a good thing. Sergeant Hendry stated that in a statement to himself defendant had complained of his brother owing money to him, and that he had tried the revolver presenting by way of "bluff."- He also said something about protecting himself against certain individuals, who had him marked owing to complaints of his that they had robbed him. The justices, without hearing any defensive'evidence, decided that the whole •business was a "Miff," and dismissed tiie i*nfo*i_naa.tioii_ -the defendant promising to