DYNAMITE IN COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 16 October 1922, Page 8

DYNAMITE IN COURT.

BUT S MERELY AS EXHIBIT

! Two very innocent looking packages reposed peacefully on the solicitor's table of the f . Greymouth Magistrate's Court a few'days ago, but there was ; enough "kick" in them to damage the . surroundings to such an extent that i even an inquest would have to be held in makeshift quarters. One contained only 100 detonators, and the other a mere trifle of six plugs or so of dynamite. These little trophies had gone through "some" adventure,' and from all accounts those in Court were not > the only residents of the district whe • stood a chance of sudden promotion tc a higher sphere. James McDougall, it appears (he himself did not appear in ■ Court) was travelling to Waiuta on September 20. When midway between Greymouth and Stillwater he was found with the dynamite and other persuasives about his person,, quite i' careless of the safety of himself or the other passengers. Consequently he was charged, before Mr. Meldrum, S.M., with carrying dangerous explosives ir a railway carriage, contrary to the ' railway by-laws. ! Senior Sergeant McCarthy said thai ' the breach was rather serious. The ' defendant was found to be in possession of 100 loose detonators and sis plugs of dynamite. It didinot require a very serious accident to jkuse trouble with instruments such as^lchese. The explosives were "in good order and condition," and the defendant was slightly under the influence of liquor. The company at Waiuta supplied theii men with explosives, but the defendant [ had given no explanation whatever oj the incident. He had since gone tc Christchurch. As far as the senior sergeant knew, he was a respectable mar with a.family, living at Christchurch. He was not very financial. W; J. Sequin, the guard," gave cvi- . dence of having accosted the defend- , ant. He had been told that witness was in possession of the explosives. A fine of £1, with costs, was in- ■ flicted. "For heaven's sake don't fall!" ad- ,. nionished the senior sergeant as he handed the packages over to a constable. The latter left with his burden, smiling most callously. The main point, however, was that he left—and there was a sigh of relief in the press box. *