TRAM EXPLOSION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 37, 13 February 1941, Page 5

TRAM EXPLOSION

CHEMICALS ON LINE

YOUTH ADMITS GUILT

SCHOOL KNOWLEDGE

APPLIED

Knowledge,of chemicals gained at I college was slaled to be responsible for the act of Lester John McDonnell Collin, a storeman and soldier, aged 19, who admitted in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon placing an explosive mixture on the tramline in Adelaide Road on February 7, 1940. When the tram passed over the packet of chemicals these -exploded, and windows in the tram were broken and floor boards forced up. Gollin, who5 appeared before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., pleaded guilty to placing obstruction, consisting of a package containing a mixture of potassium, chlorate and sulphur, ori a tramway in a manner likely to cause a danger to valuable property. He was committed to the Supreme Court for 'sentence. A motorman, Thomas James Southward, said that on the night in question he took over a tram at Lambton at 7.42 p.m., and at 9.59 he left the Island Bay terminus for the city. He described the journey into town ancl along Adelaide Road to opposite Dawson Street, where the explosion took place, i "The next thing I knew was broken glass flying "all round us," said witness, who added that the windows in front of the apron and in the side door were broken. He was dazed, and he did not remember too clearly what happened after that, but he recollected stopping the cai\ With others he made an examination of the front cabin. Two floor boards were bulged up, and the trap doors over the motors were out of position. The cabin was full of smoke. There wotild be about half a dozen passengers in the car. at the time. Some were vjn the front cabin. After the explosion the tram was withdrawn and returned to the sheds. He made an examination of the line afterwards, but found nothing that would have caused the explosion. Questioned by counsel (Mr. C. Evans Scott), witness said that so far as he could see the tram line was not damaged. The tram "did not leave the .Howard Leah, running stock superintendent, detailed the damage to the tram, and said that it was tested in its damaged condition before being taken to pieces in order that every part might be examined. It was found to be in good mechanical condition. ACCUSED'S STATEMENT. Detective N. J. McPhee produced a statement taken from the accused in which Collin said that, about a year ago he made up his mind to have a bit of fun. While at Rongotai College he had studied chemistry, he said, and he learned that if potassium chlorate and sulphur were mixed in equal parts and then struck an explosion would result. In the Christmas holidays he went to the laboratory at the college ancl opened the door with ~ a screwdrivel, taking the chemicals he wanted. He kept this material at home, continued the accused in his statement, and one evening he went to Berhampore and wrapped some vof the chemicals in a paper bag, there being about a teacupful of the mixture altogether. He placed .the package on the city-bound tram line, and then went up Dawson Street, from where he heard the explosion. He then got into the car he had and drove to Houghton Bay. At the time of the explosion a lot of people came out of their homes. He did the thing as a joke, and did not intend to cause anybody any injury. Detective McPhee produced bottles of chemicals which, he said, had been identified as those reported stolen from Rongotai College laboratory. They were found in the "possession of the 3CCUS 0d * Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan prosecuted.