FOUND WITH BLUDGEON

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1933, Page 4

FOUND WITH BLUDGEON

SEAMAN'S INTENTIONS

FOUND GUILTY BY JURY

"Whether Terence Welsh. Flynn, a seaman, aged 23, on May 8, was carrying the sawn-off heavy end of abilliard cue, admittedly found in his possession ou the waterfront during the seamen's strike, with any felonious intention, was the question the jury had to determine) at. Flynn 's trial in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon. He was found guilty with a strong recommendation to leniency on account of 'his youth and previous good character; and because of the exciting conditions prevailing at.the time of the offence. Mr. Justice Becd, before remanding the prisoner for, sentence, said to .tho jury that he would pay due attention to their recommendation. The full charge against Flynn was that he was a rogue and a-vagabond, in that he- was found armed with. a.bludgeon, with felonious intent. • ■ Mr. P. S. K. Macassey conducted the case for the Crown and Mr. E. P. Hay appeared for Flynn, .•■'..■ The witnesses for. tho Crown were Constables Carlyon and Eose. The defence was that although the accused admittedly was found in possession of the piece of billiard cue there was an entire absence of any felonious intention on his part of using it. >He said that, while he wag waiting in the men's shelter shed adjoining the left luggage shed on the Queen's Wharf for a man named Gardner, his attention was drawn to a piece of polished wood lying under a seat. At first he thought it was a flute. He picked up the piece of wood, and, thinking it might'come in handy for a hammer handle of something of that nature, he put it in. his hip pocket, and that was where.it was when the police constables • aeftoated hiiri, Flynn denied that tife had bieeh involved in any brawls at. -Wellington during the strike. .'.]':..'.'"'•'.'■ Asked to r explain how piie' pi the knuckles'of "iris light hand- had "bec'onio swollen, Flynn said he had injured his hand on April 25 in "an 'altercation after a football match' at Lyttelton. One of the members of the opposing team had been offensive towards Jim. ,• Jesse William Flynn, a. iSeaman on. the Eangatira and-elder-brottier-of the. accused, said he was with his brother the best part of the afternoon, on May 8. They had afternoon tea- -together with a friend from Dunedii- at the Majestic Lounge. The accused took' off [ his overcoat, and witness 'said he; was sure if his brother had had anything1 like, the piece of billiard cue to his:

overcoat pockets or on his person li.o would have noticed it. - ' "~ • William Gardner, another Beamaii, said he was with Flynn when he was arrested. When witness met Fly.nn.in. tho shelter shed, Flynn showed him..-the piece of wood, and said he had picked lit up in the shed. Flynn said, he-was going to take it home, as it might tonio in handy. . .. •■„ ■ The jury retired at 4.48 pun-, and returned with their verdict at 5.20 p.m.