MAN WITH FIREARM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21143, 29 March 1932, Page 11

MAN WITH FIREARM.

VISIT TO WIFE'S HOUSE, CONVICTION OF ACCUSED. A plea of guilty was entered by Gifford Gladstone Bowern, painter, aged 42, who was charged before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, with being found in the possession of a .32-calibre rifle and five cartridges without lawful purpose. Bowern was said by Detective-Sergeant T. Kelly to have been arrested by Detective McWhirter at the residence of his wife, who lived apart.from accused. Mr. Kelly stated that, upon tho defective's visit to the house at 11.20 p.m. on Saturday, Bowern was found lying on the floor, bleeding from the nose. A rifle with five cartridges in the magazine was found bei-.ide accused. "Bowern went to the houso and struck a man while lie was asleep and it. is alleged that he also struck his wife," .Mr. Kelly went on to say. "The accused is hard working and has a good character, but I understand there has been domestic trouble. Bowern explained that ho went to the house with the idea of frightening his wife." The magistrate impressed upon Bowern the seriousness of his offence and said the Arms .Act was designed to prevent such occurrences. Mr. Kelly: There is no telling what might have happened had there been a eaitridge in the barrel. As it was, the cartridges were in the magazine. It was careless of the owner of the rifle to allow Bowern to have the weapon. The magistrate convicted accused and ordered him to come up for sentence if called upon within s:x months. He remarked that the conviction was intended as a warning.