SURVEYORS OPPOSED

Evening Star, Issue 25715, 12 February 1946, Page 4

SURVEYORS OPPOSED

FATHER AND SON CHARGED FIREARMS PRESENTED When two surveyors and a! constable attempted to enter a Kaka Point farm property yesterday they were opposed by the owner and his son, who allegedly adopted a threatening attitude by presenting firearms at the party. An armed party under Superintendent D. Scott arrested the men last night, and this morning they appeared before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., in the Police Court, charged with committing an aggravated assault in that they assaulted Constable William Stuart Boyle in the execution of his duty. The accused were James Murray, a farmer, aged 74, of Cannibal Bay, and Togo James Murray, a farmer, aged! 41, of Kaka Point. Opposing the granting of hail, Detec-tive-sergeant H. J. Le Sueur described the offence as most serious. The assistance of the Dunedin police had been requested by Constable Boyle, of Balclutha, and Detectives Brown and McDougall had arrested the men. On the way to Dunedin in a car, the accused had persisted with stories that if they were granted bail they would " get guns and do the'surveyors in." James Murray applied for bail so that he could) look after his stock. He had four cows that had not been milked since yesterday morning. Togo James Murray made a similar application on the grounds that he had nine of a family and that his sheep required tending. ■ « ' Bail was granted by the Magistrate in a personal surety of £2OO and another surety of £2oo* in the case of each accused, and the hearing was remanded to Balclutha on February 20. Explaining that a rifle belonging to the accused had been taken into police custody last night. Detective-sergeant Le Sueur requested that it be made a condition of the bail that neither obtained any firearms in the meantime, to which the Magistrate assented. " What about the firearm they took away from me yesterday? " asked James Murray. "That is another matter," declared the Magistrate. A summary charge of assault on Constable Boyle was withdrawn. The incident was apparently the sequel to a threatening letter that Murray sent to the Clutha County Council, which is proposing to form a new road through his property, with the aid of a the Works Department. It is alleged that Murray defied the council to proceed with its project.