STRUGGLE IN DARK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22206, 5 September 1935, Page 12

STRUGGLE IN DARK

ARKESTS BY DETECTIVES TWO MEN WITH HANDBAGS "DANGEROUS CRIMINALS" BOTH SENT TO PRISON How two men, described by the police as dangerous criminals in a taxicab were followed by two detectives in a police patrol car was described in the Police Court youterdlay, when the story of a subsequent struggle between one of the police officers and one of the men. who endeavoured to use a sandbag, was also told. The other detective covered the second man with an automatic pistol. The incidents were described by De-tective-Sergeant McHugh, ic giving evidence against William Poa Thomas, aged 26, and George Frederick M ;irphy, aged 29. They were charged with being rogues and vagabonds*, in that they were found armed with an offensive weapon, a sandbag, with felonious intent. It. was also alleged thai, they were found by night on an enclosed area, occupied by a Chinees. Lira Yock Nam. Murphy was further charged with resisting Detective-Sergeant Mc-' Hugh in the execution olr his duty. The accused appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., Semor-Dei;ective Hall prosecuting. The Men Surprised Mr. McHugh said that;., at 5.30 on Tuesday afternoon he wan in a police patrol car with Detectivo .Finlay in Symonds Street, and saw the accused Murphy and another man, who later proved to be Thomas, go past in a taxicab. "We trailed them to Panmure, where the taxi pulled up on the roadside," Mr. McHugh continued. "It was dusk, and when darkness came the taxi proceeded bo an out-of-the-way road, and pulled up rietir the house of the Chinese, Nam. Thf* taxi was about 50yds past the hcuso. The two accused went to the back of the house, and we were clow by, in the dark, on the side of tho road. Apparently ail was not right at the house for their purpose, and they came back. "Detective Finlay and I then apEroached the men, and Finlay Hashed is torch on them. 1 said, ' Hullo, Murphy, what are you doing here?' Murphy said something; anil put his hand in his pocket. I said, 'What have you got there?' 1 grabbed the hand, in which a sandbag was gripped, and Murphy attempted to use it. "Very Bad Lists" '1 grappled with him and after a struggle I eventually threw him to the ground by applying a hold on him. Finlay had the other man covered with a pistol, and he put the handcuffs on Murphy." Mr. McHugh added that Thomas, who also had a sandbag, had a glove on his right hand, while- Murphy had a glove on his left hand. A search of Murphy's living quarters revealed material from which tne sandbags were made. * Corroborative evidence! was given by Detective Finlay. Questioned by Mr. Hajl, witnens said that a Chinese had previously bqen assaulted in the vicinity when leaving for the market gardens in a truck. The assailants were never traced. "Both men are dangerous criminals and have very bad lists," said Mr. Hall. ' Thomas was sentenced to imprisonment for a year, and a sentence of 15 mouths' imprisonment was imposed on Murphy, the term including three months' imprisonment I'or reuisting arrest.