CAR CHASE AFTER SHOT AT DUCHESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 132, 7 June 1939, Page 11

CAR CHASE AFTER SHOT AT DUCHESS.

ACCUSED IN COURT.

Empty Cartridge In Breach Of Prisoner's Gun. EVIDENCE OF POLICE. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Receive.! in n.m.) LONDON'. .Tune fi.

At the Westminster Police Court this morning Led wedge Vincent Lawlor, aged 4">, described as a welder's assistant, of Nowington Causeway, appeared and was charged: "That on Jute 5 in Belgrave Square he had in his possession a firearm and ammunition, with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property, contrary to the Firearms Act." Lawlor, a bald-headed man, was wearing a double-breasted navy blue suit and carrying a hat. Constable Tice gave evidence that at SAO - p.m. yesterday, accompanied by Constable Dickie, he was on duty in ISelgrave Square. He saw prisoner standing on the opposite corner when the Duchess of Kent lelt her home. As her car passed by witness heard a shot and saw accused hurrying across the road to a bicycle. "1 boarded another car and overtook the prisoner some distance away," said the con-table. "I swerved the car and forced him against a traffic island. Later a gun wi*s picked up from the pavement. The breach contained an empty cartridge case." Firearm in Court. A firearm a foot long, with a polished wooden butt, was produced, and there was a series of loud metallic clicks as the Court usher fumbled with it in a display for the magistrate. Detective Inspector Hay ward, giving evidence of the arrest, said he told the accused at Oerald Road police station that he had been seen to discharge the weapon produced at a motor car in Belgrave (Square. Lawlor replied: "It is niv property. I possess a certificate for it." "I told him the certificate did not entitle him to carry and discharge it in the street." witness. "When the charge was it ml Lawlor did not reply." During the hearing Lawlor sat in the corner of the dock fumbling a shabby fawn felt hat and occasionally glancing toward the Press tables. Lawlor was remanded in custody for a week and the Court thereafter adjourned. The King has been informed of the incident. Scotland Yard and Australia House are unable to substantiate that Lawlor is an Australian or came from Australia as was at first reported. According to the "News Chronicle," the Duchess of Kent was entering her car outside her home in Belgrave Square at 8.30 last evening, on leaving for a Havmarket Cinema, when a shot was fired at her and a missile whizzed past the car and struck the wall of the house. The incident occurred in daylight. The Duke of Kent, after dining with the Duchess, had left by car a few minutes earlier to attend a Masonic function, and did not hear of what had happened until he returned at 10.15.

The Duchess made light of the incident, but extra police guarded the howse all night. The children are staying at Coopin's, the Duke's country residence. Extra police and private detectives also accompanied the Duchess to the Chelsea Babies Club garden party. The "Daily Mail" says Scotland Yard is investigating whether a bullet broke a window of the dining room of the Earl of Harewood's home, and also whether members of the Irish Republican Army were responsible. A later report says" it is now believed the window was damaged by a pellet from an airgun or catapult. The Press Association says the police attach no importance to the incident, which occurred yesterday morning.