Firearm alert at dinners for P.M. led to conflict

Press, 2 December 1976, Page 10

Firearm alert at dinners for P.M. led to conflict

PA Hastings Concern about a person known to carry firearms led to a confrontation be j tween a 40-year-old Hastings man and a detective at a .charity dinner attended by the Prime Minister in Hastings recently. Carlyle Henry Bartlett, aged 40, a signwriter, of Hastings, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court ■at Hastings on a charge of using obscene language in Holt Place on November 27, to which he pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant T. James told the Court that he was on duty at C. H. Slaters, Ltd. auction rooms. A charity dinner was held at the auction rooms, at which several dignitaries, including Mr Muldoon, attended. Shortly after diiner began, Sergeant James had occasion to speak to Bartlett. He crouched down beside Bartlett’s chair and introduced himself. “T asked him to keep an eye on persons seated at his table, and who were in his group.” Seargeant James said. Tw’o or three minutes after Sergeant James re* turned to his own table, Bartlett approached the sergeant and began to ask why he had been spoken to. Sergeant James told Bartlett that a member of his party was an undesirable person, known to carry firearms. Bartlett was the organiser of the group at the dinner, and a “mature responsible type of person,” Sergeant James said.

The pair went outside for more discussion. Bartlett used obscene language several rimes, and was arrested.

Sergeant James said Bartlett was held at the Hastings police cells until Il p.m. Mr R. G. Callen, for Bartlett, said that Bartlett had been held and fingerprinted as though he had committed a serious offence., Bartlett told the Court that he attended the dinner at a cost of $l2O. Sergeant James had approached him and said: 1 am Detective Sergeant Terry James, and 1 am here to let you know that 1 am nearby.” Sergeant James had then returned to his own table. Bartlett thought the approach was “unusual,” and

went to’ the sergeant’s ! table to ask him about it. The sergeant had replied: “Don’t get heavy 1 with me. Do you want to ■ come outside?” Bartlett said. The pair went outside, and Bartiett said the sergeant had sworn at I him. and he swore back once.

Mr Callen said the in* itial approach by the i police -was misconstrued, and a misunderstanding had developed. The Magistrate said he was impressed that Detective Sergeant James was trying to do something in a tactful manner.

“Bartlett was fairly irascible, and easily excited.” he said.

The Magistrate convicted Bartlett, and fined him $5O. .