MAN CHALLENGED IN CAFE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25834, 20 June 1949, Page 8

MAN CHALLENGED IN CAFE

SHOTS FIRED AT INTRUDER HEARING IN MAGISTRATE’S COURT (New Zealand Press Association.) NELSON, June 18. The accused’s account of how he broke into several business premises in Nelson, and of how he dived through the glass door of the Marina Tearooms when challenged by the proprietor, escaping unhurt, was told in the Magistrate's Court m a statement read bv Detective W Parish, when Matanga Clarke Stephens faced four charges of breaking and entering, one of attempted breaking and entering and one of theft. The accused was described as a labourer, aged 20. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. In the course of his statement, the accused said that on June 8 he entered the Marina Tearooms and took £35 7s Id from the tills On June 9 he entered the Sunshine Milk Bar and took £4 16s 4d Also on June 9 he again entered the Marina Tearooms. While making his way to the cash register a torch was flashed on him. continued the statement, and a man said: “Put up your hands. I’ve got you covered.” The accused stood behind some tables as the man went towards him, then’ran to the front dpor. There was no time to open the door, so he dived through the glass, and landed on his feet. He heard a shot fired. He ran along the footpath, and near the corner of Bridge street he heard a second shot fired. He ran down behind the Young Men’s Christian Association and hid in a shed for about 10 minutes. Then he made his way out by another lane. Arriving back at his hotel he found his trousers torn, but he had no blood on him. He did not receive any cuts or scratches when he dived through the plate-glass door. He changed his clothes, and then went to a pie cart. Detective Parish said that among the accused’s effects were sports trousers. ■ careful examination of which disclosed minute fragments of clear glass in the cuffs.