PISTOL DRAWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 117, 20 May 1933, Page 10

PISTOL DRAWN.

IN CITY THEATRE.

DRUNK WITH AN AUTOMATIC. BUT NO AMMUNITION. A mild sensation was caused in a city theatre last night when a drunken seafaring man brandished an automatic revolver and threatened two men. Complaint was made to a constable and the man was later arrested in possession of the prohibited firearm, which was not loaded. This morning Joseph Spinner, aged 21, smartly dressed, appeared before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court, charged with drunkenness in Queenj Street and with being found in possession of an unlawful weapon, an automatic pistol. Mr. J. J. Sullivan appeared for Spinner, who pleaded guilty to both charges. Detective-Sergeant Doyle said Spinner was a hairdresser and a member of the crew of the steamer lonic. Last night, about 11 o'clock, when two men were going upstairs at the theatre they met Spinner. "If you fellows are looking for fight you can have it. I will settle the two of you in a few minutes," lie is alleged to have told the men. "Spinner then took an automatic pistol from his pocket," said Mr. Doyle. "Both men immediately complained to Constable Farrow, who later found accused in Queen Street, still in possession of the weapon. Spinner only came ashore yesterday. He had no ammunition for the pistol." Mr. Doyle produced the pistol, which was an automatic of .32 calibre. Mr. Sullivan said Spinner was exceedingly drunk at the time, and he did not remember where he got the automatic. In reply to counsel, Detective-Sergeant Dovle said that Spinner was very drunk. "Rather a double-edged sword, Mr. Sullivan," remarked the magistrate. "I don't know whether or not it is more serious for a drunken man to have a pistol." Mr. Sullivan: Quite so, your Worship, but Spinner was drunk, and cannot remember how he got the pistol. There was no ammunition in it. Mr. Wyvern Wilson: The absence of ammunition is worthy of consideration. He will be fined 5/ on the drunkenness charge and £2 on the other charge. An order was made that the weapon be forfeited.