TRAM EXPLOSION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 119, 13 February 1941, Page 8

TRAM EXPLOSION

Solution Of Year-old Mystery

YOUTH’S ESCAPADE Placed Chemicals On Berhamporc Line The explanation of a mysterious explosion which damaged a tram at Berhamporc in February a year ago was heard in the Magistrates' Court. Wellington, yesterday. A police detective produced a statement from a youth of 19, confessing to having placed a package of explosive on the tramline, “just as a joke.”

Lester John McDonnell Collin, storeman and soldier, aged 19, pleaded guilty to having placed an obstruction on the tramline, namely, a package containing a mixture of potassium chlorate and sulphur, in a manner likely to cause damage to valuable property. Thomas James Southwood, tramway motorman, said that on the evening of February 7, 1940, he was driving a tramcar from Island Bay to the city. Between Dover Street and Chilka Street he cut off the power and coasted. When the tram was passing Akatea and Dawson Streets, au explosion took place. The next thiug he knew was broken glass flying all round him from the windows and door of the car. As a result of the explosion he was dazed, and was not very clear what followed. He remembered stopping the car. The floqy boards were bulged up, the trapdoors over the motors were out of position, and the front cabin was full of grey smoke. There were at least half a dozen passengers on the tram at the time, two in the first cabin.

The tram was withdrawn from traffic and returned to the shed for examination. It was pushed or towed into the shed. It was not shifted from the lines by the explosion. Harold Leah, running stock superintendent of the municipal tramways department, said he had examined the tranicar. The damage consisted of the floor boards pushed up, the bottom of one of the seats broken and pushed up, two shield windows broken, and the platform door window broken. , The car was tested in the presence of Public Works officials, and was taken to pieces and examined, and was found to be in good mechanical condition. It appeared to have been damaged by au explosion in front and on the right-hand side. The damage was estimated at f.16/6/6. The line was undamaged, but there were marks on the bitumen. The damage to the tram was superficial; nothing internal was damaged. Detective N. J. McPhee said he made inquiries about the explosion. On February 4 this year he interviewed Collin, who told him he had caused the explosion. “A Bit of Fun.”

He produced a statement signed by Collin saying that about a year ago he made up his mind to have a bit of fun. He had studied chemistry at Rongotai College, and knew that if mixed in equal parts potassium chlorate and sulphur made an explosive mixture, which would detonate if struck.’

He broke into the Rongotai College laboratory and took some potassium chlorate and sulphur. He drove to Berhampore and placed on the line a bag containing about a teacupful of the mixture. Before he regained the car, which he had left in a side street, he heard the explosion. People camo out at the sound. He afterward heard the glass and boards had been splintered. He did this just as a joke, aud did not intend to cause anyone any injury. He had never placed any rifle cartridges on the tramlines. The detective produced a bottle of potassium chlorate and sulphur which he stated had been found in possession of accused, and had been identified as having been stolen from Rougotai College. Mr. J. 11. Luxford, S.M., who was ou the bench, committed Collin to the Supreme Court for sentence. Other Activities.

Collin was one of a band of youths who appeared before the magistrate yesterday ou a number of charges, among them breaking and entering, theft, and conversion of motor-cars. It appeared that it was while these matters were being investigated that his connexion with the tramway explosion was revealed. When the young men came before the Court, a stack of tools, motor accessories, oil containers, groceries and other articles was produced by the police as exhibits, alleged to have been stolen.

Collin was represented by Mr. Evans Scott, .Mr. T. P. McCarthy appeared for a youth of 17; Mr. D. Ferry for Stanley Clive Bernasconi, aged 27, motor mechanic; .Mr, R. M. .Sutherland for a joinery machinist, aged 23, whose name was ordered to be suppressed. Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan prosecuted, Collin. Bernasconi, and the youth were jointly charged with breaking and entering the grocery shop of R. N. Haley, Awa Road, Miramar, and committing theft of groceries, sweets and tobacco, and with tiie theft of a motorear valued at £250, the property of Jeffrey Arnold Chapple. Bernasconi pleaded guilty to one charge, not guilty of the other; lie was committed for sentence on the one, and for trial on the other. The others both pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence.

In addition, Collin pleaded guilty to conversion of a ear; Collin guilty and Bernasconi not guilty to the theft of tools valued at £lB/18/- from the Wellington College Board of Governors; Collin and the youth guilty to three charges of converting cars; Collin guilty of theft of 16 gallons of petrol; Collin and the youth guilty, Bernasconi not guilty of the theft of a quantity of motor oil; Collin and the youth guilty, Bernasconi not guilty to two charges of conversion of cars; and Collin guilty of riding a motorcycle without a sidecar with more than two passengers, and failing to stop when required. Bernasconi was remanded for a week on the defended charges; the other two were remanded till Friday for sentence. The magistrate said the question whether the youth came within the jurisdiction of the Childrens’ Court would have to be considered, some of tiie offences having been committed before his 17th birthday. Tiie machinist, whose name was suppressed, was charged with five counts of receiving property which be knew to have been dishonestly obtained. He elected to be dealt with summarily. The magistrate said that in view of tile excellent report made by the probation ofiicer, and other circumstances. lie would not enter a conviction but would adjourn the ease for 12 months