HIGH-HANDED DEBTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 21 February 1927, Page 9

HIGH-HANDED DEBTOR.

TAKES CREDITOR TO POLICE. INTIMIDATION* ALLEGED. **I give this man in charge for threatening to blow my brains out: I cliarge him with having a gun on him. and 1 want him searched." Pueb words, it was alleged, were used by Herbert William Harrhy. a barman, when be piloted his elderly father-in-law. William John Manning, to a Wellington police station a week or two ago. In consequence, Harrhy was charged in the Magistrate's Court with having intimidated Manning with a \ icw to preventing his doing a legal art. Counsel for Manning said that Harrhv owed him money, and it wj. arranged that he should call at the hotel where Harrhv worked, at 1 p.m.. when Harrhv would "lix it up." >hort Iv after the appointed hour, the two met outside the hotel, and. without a word being spoken. Harrhy got the older man to get on a tramcar with him. When they alighted. Harrhy !.-! the way :nt« a building, which Manning M.on realised was a police station. No words had yet been spoken, and Harrhy went jiav for a minute or two. returning with Seni<>r-S-rgeant Lander. He then charz<-d hi* father-in law with carrying a gun. and !<»mand-d that he i«- -earehed. Th->eni'ir-Sergeant carried out the search, but found no weapii. Senior Sergeant I-ander ilated that Ix>th men iiad seemed very i.itter and excited regarding domestic circum--tanees when he had -eca them at t:>police station. Mr. Har.n.i to Mr. K. 5 .M. '"The only inference is that Harrhv did this with a \ iew to intimidating Manning into not collecting the debt. A man less strong-willed than Iny client migiit have been influenced." The Magistrate: The action of the defendant was somewhat unusual, and was no douht improper, but I am not satisfied that it corr.e. within the statute, or that it was for the purpose of hearing nothing further of thv debt. The ca-e was dismissed, the Magis--tate adding that the. complainant might find remedy in another action, peraans in libel.