MAN WITH BOMB

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 11

MAN WITH BOMB

KUSSIAN'FOUND GUILTY. INTENT to commit crime SUPREME COURT TRIAL JUDGE DEFERS SENTENCE AUeeerl to ' inve been in possession of peifgnite anil bombs, with intent to commit, a crime, George Sargiff, aged 42, a Russian seaman, who was arrested in Princes Street on May 19. was found guilty l>y n j"ry in tlie Supreme Court yesterday. The case was heard before Mr. justice Smith./, .Accused was charged with procuring gelignite, without lawful right; with having in his possession gelignite, with intent to commit a crime; and with having in his possession a certain dangerous engine, a bomb, with intent to commit a ciime- Counsel for the defence objected \o a further charge of being in possession of gelignite, without lawful purpose, on the ground (hat this was not an indictable offence, and the chargo was withdrawn. The Crown Prosecutor said thai when accused was arrested he had in his possession a small improvised bomb. A larger bomb was found in the room ho was occupying and pieces of lead piping ready plugged were recovered from a vacant section. There was,the obvious'intention to commit a crime. Accused had been greatly interested in tho manufacture of explosives, having studied books on the subject. Arrest Described Detective C. Ti. Packman described the arrest of accused and subsequent inquiries. Accused was followed from tho Ferry Buildings to Princes Street by Detcctivo Naldqfiy and witness, lie was accosted and questioned about his association with Communists and was taken to the police station and searched. An improvised bomb, made from a grease-cup, two pieces of gelignite and two detonators. one of them cut down, were found in his possession. Asked by witness how he got tho articles, accused said he was going to blow up fish which he sent to the market. Asked which" market, he replied: ."I only give them to my friends." Accused further said he obtained the explosives from the Hikurangi mine, although he had not worked there. He said he came to New Zealand 12 years. ago. He followed the occupation of a seaman and had signed off tho Karetu early in April.

Articles Found in Room. The finding of a fully-loaded bomb encased in 7id. of water piping, a piece of piping, a dictionary and a formula for explosives in accused's room at the Sailors' Home was described by witness. Accused again said they were for blowing up fish. When he was informed that lie would be locked up on a charge of being in possession of a bomb, he said, "I understand. It is your duty."' Accused was later shown some lengths ef piping, blocked at one end, which were found on a vacant section at the foot of Hobson Street, a few minutes' walk from the Sailors' Home. He said, "They are not- my bombs." Asked if anyone had assisted him in making bombs, accused said, "I will take the responsibility." He added, "Go ou and hit ine with a piece of that (piping) as though I were a criminal." Charles Bamford Daniels, inspector of fisheries, said that "naked" gelignite was always used for blowing up fish. After blowing up, fish would have no market value «nd could be used only for bait. Evidence concerning an inspection of the explosive charges was given by Captain G. H. Clifton, of the New Zealand Staff Corps. Witness said that the bomb 'found ill Sargiff's room contained about one and a-half jilugs of gelignite. He estimated that it would have very much the effect of a Mills bomb and would be very destructive among people. Counsel for the Defence: What people? Witness: Any people being unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity at the lime. Cross-examined, witness said the articles could be used for blowing up fish, which could be eaten. Case lor Defence Counsel for the defence said there was no evidence that accused was going to do anything except blow up fish with the explosive in his possession. "It is a most unfortunate thing that accused happens to be a Russian," said counsel. ' It may have caused prejudice against him." Called by the defence, Henry Toovey, a house decorator, said accused had spoken to him about explosives a month before his arrest. Witness endeavoured to persuade accused against tusing such dangerous material,/ which accused said he would be using for shifting some earth and blowing up fish. Henry Bailey, manager of the Sailors' Home, said he did not regard accused as a dangerous man. His Honor said the whole question for the jury was whether accused had intent, to commit a crime. It might be taken for granted that tho allegation of possession lia'd been proved. His Honor directed the jury to acquit on the charge of unlawfully procuring possession of gelignite. "However much you may think the case reeks of suspicion, there is no evidence as to how the gelignite was procured," he said. .Accused was found guilty on the counts of being in possession of gelignite and a bomb with intent to commit a crime. He was remanded for 6entence.