POSSESSION OF REVOLVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17754, 13 April 1921, Page 8

POSSESSION OF REVOLVER.

CASE OF CLAUDE 0. BARKER.

FINE OF £50 IMPOSED. The heavy fino of £50 was imposed on Claude Osmonde Barker (Mr. Dickson), in the Police Court yesterday, by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., who pleaded guilty to having been found in possession of a firearm and ammunition*without proper and lawful purpose. Accused was before the Court on Monday, charged with having attempted to obtain goods and a motor-car, valued at over £1200, by false pretences, on March 24.

Chief -Detective McMahon aaid the magistrate would remember that the evidence given in tho other case showed that after accused had been arrested a loaded revolver was found by the detectives in ono of the trunks left by accused in the sample room which he had rented in connection with the alleged attempted frauds. Accused had specifically mentioned that the revolver* had been received for that "stunt." -Had'the circumstances been different the revolver might havo played a part in the proceedings. Counsel pointed out that accused had yet t6 be doalt with by the Supreme Court for his escapade, of Which the EosseEsion of the revolver was part, and e asked that the punishment for this offence be hold over. To deal with him now'would moan double punishment. Accused had behaved in a" veiy foolish manner. After reading accused's record tlje magistrate said the man had'been convicted for theft in 1912, 1915, and 1916, being sentenced on the latter occasion to a term of imprisonment followed by reformative treatment. He was released on probationary license, and this was his gratitude. ,'"I look on tho carrying of revolvers as ft grave menace ,to public safety," continued the magistrate. " This man started out with the intention* of doing wrong on a big scale. He provided himself with false clothing, false cards, a faked cheque book, and a loaded revolver, He admitted that this revolver was part of the 'stunt,' as he termed it. It is a. most serious maftor, and it is necessary to warn him and others who may be contemplating a similar 'stunt,' to leave out that part .of the equipment." Accused was fined £50, in default threo months' imprisonment.