TAXI-DRIVER SCARED

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 February 1939, Page 7

TAXI-DRIVER SCARED

PASSENGER WITH GUN THREAT TO SHOOT [PER press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, February 7. “Drive to North Beach, or I’ll blow your brains out.” A startled Christchurch taxi driver turned round in his seat, to gaze down the single barrel of a sawn-off shot gun. That was at 10.45 yesterday morning. For the next hour, the taxi driver, H. M. Keith, had one of the most sensational and terrifying experiences of its kind the city has known. Behind him was an armed

man holding a gun in one hand, an gripping a woman by the wrist wit his other.

About 10.30 yesterday morning,

man Approached Keith, and asked to be taken for a. drive. At the corner or Armagh and Colombo Streets, the stranger picked up two women. One sat in the seat with the driver, and the other got in the back with the stranger. “Go on, make for the beach,” the man ordered the driver. Once over Barbadoes Street, the man changed his mind* and ordered to be ' taken to St? Albani. The car 'Stopped there. The woman in front got out. The man tried to persuade the woman in the back to go to North Beach. She got out, talked for a moment or two with her friend, then got back into the car. She asked to be driven to

the Square. Not half a block had been covered, when the man at the back snapped out: “Driver, I’ve got a sawn-off shot gun here. Drive to North Beach or I’ll blow your brains out.” Quickly, the driver* turned to look down the barrel of a sawn-off shot gun. “It was pointing right to the level of my eyes.” said Keith, when relating his amazing experience, in a special interview with the “Star-Sun.’ “I did not know what to do. He had a

firm grip .of the woman’s right wrist, while hejield a shot gun with his right hand. I drove slowly on, playing for time. I made towards the beach. I kept looking to right and left, in hope of attracting help.” “Do not look to the right or left, I can see you in the rear vision mirror, you keep going, or I’ll blow your head off,” the man said in a menacing tone. The taxi driver realising he was at the mercy of a desperate man, was scheming a plan of escape for the woman and himself.

“What are you going to do when you get to the beach?” the taxi driver asked casually. “I am going to commit suicide,” came the astounding reply. “I cannot leave the lady here with you and that gun,” Keith said. “You give me the gun, and I will let the lady get out.” “No,” said the man defiantly, “I am going to have a yarn with my wife first.” ■ DISARMAMENT.

It was a tense’ moment. Keith kept on with his quiet persuasive methods. Shrewdly, the, taxi driver suggested the man should unload the gun. After ■ a time he agreed, and withdrew a cart- \ ridge and handed it over. “You might have , some more cartridges in your pocket,” said Keith. The man grinned and produced some in his hand. Still the situation was desperately delicate, hut the persuasive powers of Keith still worked. In an off-hand way he suggested the man should give him half the gun. To his amazement, the stranger, Who was obviously under great strain, agreed. He broke the gun, and handed the taxi driver the barrel. The tension was over. The taxi driver and the woman breathed freely for the first time. “I could not possibly leave the woman with him,” said Keith, “so I kept on arguing with him. Eventually, after a lot more bluff on my part, he handed over the stock of the gun, and three more cartridges, which he had in his pocket. He said he had bought the gun with his last £4. “Then he broke down, and started to cry with his head on the woman’s lap. I suggested he should come into town, and that he should see a doctor. After a time he agreed. Near Fitzgerald Avenue the man demanded to get out. Relieved, Keith pulled up. Calmer now, the man got out and wandered off. Then Keith drove himself and the woman to police headquarters. He handed over to the detectives a singlebarrel shot gun and' four cartridges. The detectives were out on the job, looking for the man, as soon as they heard the story. It was not long before the stranger was arrested, charged with having in his possession a shot gun with felonious intent. He went Q This morning, at the Magistrate’s Court, Alan Stuart McLachlan aged 28 years, described as an electric welder of Edgeware Road, stood charged that he was deemed to be a rogue and vagabond, in that he was armed with a gun with felonious intent. McLachlan pleaded guilty, and after evidence had been heard, the Ma oistrate (Mr. Levvey) granted a remand until February 13, to allow medical observation of accused.