SHOOTING ON TOWN BELT

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 8

SHOOTING ON TOWN BELT

GARDENER ON A BABBIT HUNT YOUNI WOMAN ALARMED BY SHOTS Chasing rabbits from his well-known garden in Tolcarne street with a rifle resulted in Frederick George Duncan,; a solicitor, appearing in' the Police Court this, morning on a charge of discharging a firearm near a public place so as to frighten a passer-by.; He pleaded guilty. Sub-inspector Cameron said a J'oung woman and her companion had called at the police station and complained that a man was shooting in the Town Belt. The woman, who was alarmed, said that two shots were fired. The ’ , police were despatched to make inquiries. Later Mr Duncan telephoned headquarters and admitted that he was the culprit. Mr Duncan explained that rabbits from the Town Belt were destroying his garden. He had chased a’ rabbit out into the Belt, but the first shot missed. The rabbit ran across the road, and Mr Duncan killed it with his second shot. The young woman was alarmed by the shots going through , the trees near the path where she was walking. Mr Duncan had saved the police much trouble by communicating with them. Mr Duncan said that at no time was the young lady within the line of fire.; Rabbits were a nuisance in the Town' Belt, and no provision was made by the City Council to deal with them. “ I am satisfied that Mr Duncan! would not fire so as to endanger anyone,” said Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., in convicting defendant and ordering him to pay court costs. “ In: this case the lady was needlessly, alarmed.” /