ARMED MEN AT BARN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30215, 21 August 1963, Page 16

ARMED MEN AT BARN

Allegation By Counsel (,V.Z. Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 20. Evidence of how three men armed with rifles waited for a man they suspected was going to set fire to a barn was given in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth today. Douglas Keith Beale, aged 32, a carpenter, is charged with wilfully burning down a shed, the property of Ernest Lionel Willis, on July 12. Beale has pleaded not guilty. Messrs J. P. Quilliam and J. A. Laurensen appear for the Crown, and Mr J. A. Dean for Beale. The case is before Mr Justice Tompkins. During cross-examination Willis told Mr Dean that about a week after the fire he waited at another shed with another man, Colin McCoy. James Bentham was also there for a time. They were armed. Mr Dean: Were you expecting to shoot mice? Willis: No. Who were you going to shoot?—We were not necessarily going to shoot anyone just because we had rifles. You hoped to catch accused, shoot him, and make a proper job of it?—l did not want another shed burnt down. A mere term of imprisonment wouldn't have been enough? You wanted a final solution.—lt was not me that was making the trouble. To his Honour, Willis said he had only a certain amount of hay left and was taking precautions. The rifles were mainly to “frighten someone of!"