Police Raid Ship After Pistol Fired

Northern Advocate, 9 July 1947, Page 5

Police Raid Ship After Pistol Fired

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Following the discharge of a colt pistol on Victoria Wharf at 1.15 o'clock this morning. 22 members of the police force raided an overseas vessel, the Tower Hill.

Constable D. G. W. Brown, patrolling the wharf, was near the vessel when the shot rang out through a porthole. Thinking it was fired at him, he communicated with Superintendent Scott, and 22 police turned out to search the vessel.

This morning, before Mr W. H. Bundle, S.M.. Frank Southern, an English seaman, was charged with discharging a firearm in a public place, also with having an unlicensed firearm. He was fined 20/- and costs on the first charge and convicted on the second. The pistol was confiscated. Chief-Detective Hall said accused first denied knowledge of the occurrence. He had had women in his cabin. They were found hiding on the wharf, brought back to the ship, and then said accused had fired the pistol. Accused was arrested and then admitted the occurrence. Chief-Detective Hall said it was a serious matter, but accused’s explanation that he had been drinking and had fired the shot in larrikinism was probably true. It was difficult to take aim through a porthole. Nothing previously was known against accused, who said he bought the pistol from an American sailor at Lyttelton for £5. The magistrate said he was convinced if. was an act of stupidity. He understood that a quantity of pillaged goods was found in secret places on the ship, but, as they were in no one’s possession, no action was likely.