WITH MENACES

Evening Star, Issue 20634, 6 November 1930, Page 7

WITH MENACES

VISITOR HELD UP [Special to the ‘ Star.’] AUCKLAND, November 5. A Wellington man’s story of how he was menaced by two men on the waterfront and asked lor money, and of how iio bluffed them and turned to a policeman, was told to Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M.,' ju the Police Court this morning. Francis Fi nest Henry Pierce, an Australian labourer, aged 17, and James Lewis, a Canadian seaman, aged 27, were charged with demanding money by menaces, and with being idle and disorderly persons with insufficient means of support. They pleaded'not guilty to the charge of demanding money, but admitted the vagrancy charge. “ This is a very, prevalent offence, and it must bo stopped,” said Chiefdetcctivc Hammond, who prosecuted. Me'rvyn liruco Osborne, oi Cambridge terrace, Wellington, said he was a clerk in the New Zealand Railways, and was at present on holiday in Auckland. On Monday evening he went down to the waterfront for a walk. He saw Pierce standing near the Hobson street wharf. Pierce said; “Good day,” and a conversation started. Witness said he was a stranger to Auckland. They talked about things in general, and then Pierce suggested that witness should walk towards Luna Park, where he would get a good view of North Shore. When crossing a vacant section Jtw° men approached witness, and one of them (Lewis) said: ‘‘What are you doing here?. You’ve been up to something; you’ve been interfering with this young chap.” Lewis accused witness of interfering. Witness denied the charge, hut Pierce also said that *■»? had been interfered with. “ I was astounded at the accusation,” said Osborne. “ Lewis seemed to bo the spokesman, and ho said: ‘ We got one man four years for that sort of tiling; come across with what you’ve got.’ 1 said that 1 had nothing and started to walk away. The three of them were standing close round me. Two of them said they wore out of work, so I pulled out a two-shilling piece and a threepence, and told them that was all I had. 1 pulled out a low more shillings, and Lewis grabbed the money. Then Lewis demanded £3. He said; ‘We want three quid off you.,’ 1 said 1 did not have it on me. but told them that if they liked to come up to the hotel with mo 1 would give it to them. Lewis said; ‘ Don’t come at any funny business. Pierce will go with you, and wo will follow behind.’ ” On the way to the hotel witness called a. constable and laid a complaint. Witness said be knew. Lewis by sight. Ho had seen him in Wellington. The attitude of Lewis and his companion was threatening. “ They put the wind up me,” ho said. “ 1 had £o .in my inrklo pocket, hut they did not know that.” Both men pleaded not guilty and were committed’ to the Supreme Court for trial. The vagrancy charges against them were adjourned.