LIFE OF EXCITEMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 2260, 20 April 1926, Page 7

LIFE OF EXCITEMENT.

PISTOL LEADS TO SUMMONSES

SOLICITOR'S PLAN FOR NEW

EXPERIENCE,

London, February 20. A solicitor, Mr Philip Sidney John Owen, company director, of Jermyn Street, W., told a remarkable story at answer to two summonses charging him with—

Unlawfully possessing an automatic pistol, without having a license; and vlie other, taken out by his wife, alleging that he had possession of the firearm for the purpose" of endangering her life. It was alleged that Mr Owen had threatened to shoot his wife, and that in consequence she rang up the policestation at Vine Street. The wife also alleged her husband had struck her with a water-jug and burned her face with a cigar. In answer to these allegations Mr Owen said his wife was nervous; she had been attended by eight doctors in England, America, and in Paris, and declared: "She lives on such cases as this; she likes the excitement and notoriety." The summons alleging that the husband intended to endanger his wife-s life was dismissed. For having a firearm without a license Mr Owen was fined £7. Mrs Spencer Taylor, of AVelback Street, W., who, it was stated, was ill in bed when called to the court, said she had asked Mrs Owen if her husband had threatened to kill her, and Mrs Owen replied: "No, he has not; but I am going to say so because ] want to get him into prison, behind the bars."

Mr Owen, who denied all the allegations against him, went on to give an interesting account of how he became possessed of the automatic pistol. During a visit to Paris, he said, he met Captain Ellis, who was the skipper of the Swift, a small steamer plying between" London and Paris. Anxious to have a novel travel experience. Mr Owen said, Captain Ellis agreed to fake him to London as a member or the crew. Just before they were to sail, Mr Owen saw some pistols offered for sale at a very cheap price, and in view of his expected voyage ho bought one C APTAIN'S EVIDENO B.

I tough weather prevented the trip, however, and he left the ship, leaving behind, among other things, the pistol. Later on, these goods, with the pistol, were forwarded to him .by the captain, and Mr Owen put the pistol in a drawer and forgot it. Fie had no ammunition and the pistol had never been fired.

Captain Ellis, of the Swift, said when he met .Mrs Owen she asked him if lie would say he had heard Mr Owen threaten to kill her. As he had never even seen Mr and Mrs Owen together he said he could have nothing to do with such, a matter. Mr Mead said there was no case for trial on the alleged threats, and no jury could properly convict.