Committed For Sentence For Causing Explosions

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28552, 3 April 1958, Page 18

Committed For Sentence For Causing Explosions

(Nero Zealand fress Association)

WELLINGTON, April 2. Trevor Townsend Hamilton Pryce, a storeman. aged 38 (Mr K. Bryan), was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court today on charges of placing explosives in Bond street and Willis street, Wellington, with intent to do bodily harm. The charges were a sequel to an explosion in Bond street near the Hot Dog Cafe and another behind a shop in Willis street on the night of March 14. To a third charge—of unlawfully having gelignite, detonators, and fuse in his possession—Pryce pleaded guilty and was remanded till April 16. After evidence on the other charges had been heard from fifteen witnesses, Pryce pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr M. B. Scully. S.M., was on the Bench. Damage Put at £340 1 Mr F. O. Scott, outlining the j I police evidence, said that damage l ! near the Hot Dog Cafe amounted ! to nearly £3OO and at the scene; of the second explosion to £4O | The first bomb went off at about; 9 p.m. near the back door of the restaurant. Windows for about 100 yards were shattered, he said ! The only persons in the cafe , were three men sitting near the: hack door, which was blown in l The door fell in towards thej table and two of the men were ■ hurt. The waitress fainted, and! also was taken to hospital. "Fatal injuries could have been j caused to anyone near the seat i of the explosion, but fortunately!

no-one was in the lane outside at the time,” Mr Scott said. Mr Scott said that an hour later a second bomb went off at the back of a Willis street second-hand shop. During his investigations at the scene of this explosion. Detective R. Butler spoke to the accused, who was standing in the crowd * Pryce told Detective Butler that he had also been at the Hot Dog Cafe earlier, continued Mr Scott. When his room was searched Pryce was found to be in possession of a stick of gelignite, a detonator, and a fuse. Pryce told the police that he had earlier been robbed by four Maoris and that two of them had been in the Hot Dog Cafe earlier, and he knew that they lived near the second explosion. Subsequent inquiries failed to substantiate this, said Mr Scott. Between the two explosions the proprietor 1 of a third restaurant had received I a telephone call from a man [threatening t? blow up this ! restaurant, added Mr Scott. Waitress’s Evidence Dorothy Grace Me Jarrow. formerly a waitress at the Hot Dog Cafe, said that on the night of the explosion she was serving three European customers when there was a loud explosion. “I was deafened temporarily . and saw smoke coming from the (back door.” said the witness. “I , heard the sound of breaking glass and other crackling noises.” The . next she knew, she said, she was in hospital. She knew the accused by sight, as he was a customer ,of the cafe. However, she had | not seen him for some weeks.