ARMED WITH AIR PISTOL AND REVOLVER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6629, 17 August 1931, Page 6

ARMED WITH AIR PISTOL AND REVOLVER

Husband and Wife Arrested In New Plymouth

TWO YOUNG AUSTRALIANS

SEQUEL TO RECENT HOLD-UPS,

Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night. What may lead to a connection with the recent robbery under arms episodes at Wellington occurred in the arrest at the Terminus hotel, New Plymouth, by Sergeant McGregor and Detective Meinlejohn on Saturday morning of jack and Florence W instone. The accused, who are both Australians, gave their ages as 20 ana 22 respectively, but look about three or four years older.

A search of their room at the hotel at the time of their arrest disclosed a fully-loaded iivc-chambered revolver and a powerful air pistol capable of iiring lead slugs with considerable force. Included also in accused’s effects was a sock containing a quantity of .32 calibre bullets and two boxes of lead slugs one size of which litted the air pistol, the other being too small. Tire astuteness of the management of the Terminus hotel was largely responsible for the arrest of the two people. Last Wednesday night a constable on his beat was accosted by a man who said ho had booked in at the Arcadia hotel but was unable to gain admittance at that late hour.

The constable suggested that he would bo able to secure accommodation at tho Terminus hotel where thero wrns a night porter. Tho man acted on the suggestion and was booked in by tne night porter at the Terminus, giving his name as Winstone. The new lodger explained that his wife would be joining him about midday on Thursday and tho woman duly arrived for lunch. Tho management of tho hotel became suspicious, however, owing to the mysterious movements of the new lodgers and the domestic staff of the hotel wero instructed to keep a careful watch on tho movements of Mr. and Mrs. Winstone ,while one young lady staying at */-c hotel was advised to lodge her money and valuables with the management. Winstone seldom had his meals m the dining-room, pref erring them in his bedroom. Other little incidents and the movements generally of the new arrivals strengthened the suspicions of tho management that they had some connection with tho Wellington highway robberies and the police were accordingly notified with the lesult stated. Accused are at present charged with being armed' with an offensive weapon namely a five-chambered revolver at Miramar, Wellington, on August 7, and robbing one, Gutherie», <rr tine cheque book, and of being unlawfully in possession of a five-chambcred revolver and a compressed air pistol, both of them dangerous weapons, at New Ply* mouth on August 15. Jt is understood when accused come before Court on Monday mor.rtng further charges in connection with the recent holding-up and searching episodes at Miramar and Day’s Bay wi be preferred and that the police will ask for a remand to Wellington.