CONSTABLE DISMISSED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20136, 22 December 1928, Page 15

CONSTABLE DISMISSED.

UNREGISTERED > REVOLVER.

POSSESSION FIRST- DENIED.

FOUND AT BOTTOM OF BOX. Following his dismissal from the police force in 'Auckland on Thursday, R. J. Hannah appeared in the Police Court yesterday, charged with having an unregistered firearm in his possession.

Sub-Inspector McCarthy said information was received that Hannah, who was a constable at the central station, had a revolver in his possession. While making his daily tour of inspection of the barracks about, a fortnight ago, the speaker asked Hannah if he did own a firearm. Accused denied having a revolver, and was then asked to turn out his box. At the bottom was found a revolver, in good order, except that the spring was broken. He explained the weapon was given to him by a friend, and he had neglected to register it. ' Mr. J. S. Burt, who appeared for accused, asked that the charge should be dismissed without penalty, in view of the position Hannah had held until the pre-' vious day. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: You want me to dismiss the case because he is a constable. I might have done so if he had not been a constable. Mr Burt said accused had not. made any secret of the fact that he owned the revolver. He had shown it round the barracks, and other constables had deemed it their duty to report him to the authorities. The commissioner of police was communicated with and Hannah was recalled from his beat on the previous day and was summarily dismissed when the inlormatioc was laid against him. It was understood accused had previously borne an excellent character.

The magistrate said he did not like to ask what character had been borne by a constable who came before the Court as there was a possibility that something further underlay his dismissal. Mr. Burt said there was no reason why the sub-inspector should not be asked the question.

"This is the cause of his dismissal, but not the reason," said the sub-inspector.

"It was the last straw that broke the camel's back/' remarked the magistrate, who imposed a fine of £1 with costs.