CRIMINALS' NEW WEAPON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 266, 9 November 1932, Page 10

CRIMINALS' NEW WEAPON.

BISCOVEHY IN SYDNEY.

FOUNTAIN PEN "GUN."

(From Our Own Correspondent.) " SYDNEY, November 4. The other day detectives at Darlinghurst received information that a man well know* to them was "carrying a gun." They invited him in and put him through the usual search, but without result. Then, one of the detectives remarked on a handsome fountain pen which the man was carrying in his vest pocket. "Yes," said the man, going on with his cigarette, "nice thing—it's a present."

One of the officers took the pen out to admire it, and accidentally touched a spring. The end flew up and. the fountain pen etood confessed—a small-bore "gun," fitted with a cartridge containing tear gas or some similar chemical, and capable of hitting at 40 yards. All; that is necessary for the discharge of this weapon is to press the spring; and as it can be fitted with small bulletcartridges' as well as tear gas ; bombs, it is a decided acquisition to the stock-in-trade of the professional gangster.

Curiously enough, the police here profess to have had no , previous knowledge or experience of this strange weapon. One might recommend them, as part of their professional duties, to read American periodicals dealing with underworld life and crime, in which for years past the tear bomb fountain pen has played a distinguished part. Many of the stories in , the most up-to-date criminal fiction of the day provide quite a liberal education in euch matters. Our detectives -cannot afford to fall behind the times.