“A DARK, HANDSOME STRANGER”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 119, 17 February 1928, Page 8

“A DARK, HANDSOME STRANGER”

STORY OF A BORROWED RIFLE Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, February 16. Because a fortune-teller had told his wife that a “dark handsome stranger” was soon to “come into her William Martin Charles Hardv went looking for the unknown home-wrecker, and he went with another man’s rifle. There was a rather unusual sequel in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Hardy borrowed the rifle from Philip Whelch, who had previously borrowed it from Edward William George. When Hardy’s wife confessed that one day “a dark stranger was to steal her heart’ as the fortune-teller had said, Hardy became really annoyed. He cleaned the borrowed rifle and swore to shoot the stranger. So dangerous did he look that his wife called in the police, fearing more for herself than for the unknown Lothario, who seemed to be delaying his entrance on the scene. The police arrived, took the rifle and then unravelled the fact that there had been no changes of ownership registered with the police, and so Phillip Whelch to-day pleaded guilty to charges of having procured, kept in his possession, and transferred a rifle each time without a permit. Hardy pleaded guiltv to a charge of having procured a rifle without having a permit. Edward William George, who did not appear, was charged with having transferred a rifle without having a permit to do so. It was stated that the real owner of the rifle, George, was not anxious to keep it, and it was suggested that it should be forfeited. Hardv said that he borrowed the rifle periodically from Whelch to go pig shooting. The Magistrate (Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M.) : Well, you won't be aide to borrow it anv more. George was convicted and ordered to forfeit the rifle. Whelch and Hardy were each convicted and ordered to pay costa.