PISTOLS AND MASKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 202, 27 August 1931, Page 8

PISTOLS AND MASKS.

DISCOVERY BY POLICE.

THREE MEN IN COURT,

SEQUEL TO BURGLARIES,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Inquiries by detectives into the circumstances of an attempt td break and enter the. Self-Help grocery store ; a.t Petone last, month led to the finding of an automatic pistol, ammunition, two bludgeons' and ; a black mask. As' a result/ Leslie Gordon Clarke, aged 22, a seaman, William Edward Brown (27)* a cabinetmaker, and Sydney John, Hodge (35), a carpenter, were charged' before Mr. Page, S.M., to-day. Clarke pleaded guilty to assaulting James William Batten at Island Bay, with intent to rob, and to two charges of breaking and entering and, theft, and one of attempted breaking and entering. He was committed tq the Supreme Court for sentence. He also.pleaded guilty to having unlawfully in his possession an automatic pistol and ammunition. The magistrate said-he would adjourn this sine die, and deal with it after Clarke had been before the Supreme Court.

Hodge pleaded guilty to attempted breaking and entering, and was committed for sentence; -•-■.:

Brown pleaded not guilty to one charge of breaking and entering and theft, and one -of attempted .breaking and entering.' He:was committed for trial. Bail,was allowed at £250.

The circumstances of the assault were outlined,in the ■ evidence of Batten,..a pawnbroker and jeweller, of Cuba Street. He said- that ,on July 30 he found ;"hijt premises had- been entered, and an attempt made to open a door leading into- the main shop. He did not miss anything from the premises. •On the night of September 3 he was going home at; Island. Bay about 10.20. He passed a man standing on the edge of the kerb. He walked on about 20yds, and heard someone walking behind him. Suddenly he. felt something going wrong with bim.. He did _not feel, .anything, but tried to collect.his thoughts,;and in ■doing so turned, round. Jiist as he turned someone hit" him on' the - right side. of _ the head with, a heavy., article. He .only .received .one -blow, 'which cut ,;hi3 face. He called out, and the man :ran away. -— - -