POKENO SHOOTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22627, 15 January 1937, Page 13

POKENO SHOOTING

NIGHT ENCOUNTER . DETECTIVES' PURSUIT TWO MEN BEFORE COURT COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Charges arising out of a sensational incident at Pokeno on the morning of December 5, when a man was shot when running away from armed detectives, were heard before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M.. in the Police Court yesterday. A salesman, Clement Robert Lawson, aged 2.">, and a labourer, George Frederick Murphy, aged 40, were both charged with breaking and entering by night the shop of the Farmers' Trading Company at Pokeno with intent to commit a crime. Both men were further charged with having in their possession, by night and without lawful excuse, instruments of housebreaking, and Murphy alone was charged with having in his possession two plugs of gelignite and five detonators, with intent to commit a crime. Charges against both men of being rogues and vagabonds were withdrawn. Detective-Sergeant McHugh prosecuted. and Mr. Sullivan appeared for both accused.

Reginald Ewart Woodcock, manager for the Farmers' Trading Company at Pokeno, said there were two stores on the company's property, a nwiin store facing the road to Thames and a small bulk store at the rear. The windows and doors of both were secured when witness left on the evening of December 4. When he returned at (3.30 a.m. the next day he found the lock of the bulk store missing and the door open. As far as he could see nothing was missing. The main store had not been entered, although there were marks on the door which witness did not recognise as old marks. A sum of about £'7B had been left in the sale in the main store overnight. Hiring of Car

Arthea Ena Graven, a clerk employed by Drive Yourself, Limited, described the hiring of a car by Lawson on December 3 and a subsequent arrangement, made by Lawson, telephoning from Huntly, to extend the term of hire. When the car was recovered from the Central Police Station oil December 5, the meter showed that it had travelled 619 miles. It had been equipped with a full kit of tools, but on recovery it was found that two tyre levers and a crank handle were missing. Detective John Hunt said that on the evening of December 4 he was engaged in patrolling the Great South Road and other localities in a police car. accompanied bv Detectives Brown, Wilson anil Mahood. They left the car at Pokeno, made an inspection of the township, and, about 11.-50 p.m. sat down under a hedge on the PokenoThames Road, about 1} chains beyond the Farmers' Trading Company store and oil the opposite side of the road. What Detectives Saw At about 1.30 a.m. witness saw three men coming along the rhames-Pokeno Road, from Thames direction. When they passed the detectives, one of the men went to the rear of the main store while the others went to the front and examined the lock on the door. 1 lie two men then rejoined the third at the back and witness could see a torch being flashed on the building. An inspection of the side of the building followed and the men then walked a!on<i to tlie Great South Road out of witness' sight. Ten minutes later they returned. Detective Hunt said. When they were at the back of the main store, witness heard a noise as if iron were bein<i forced off a building. The men then went to the bulk store and witness could hear a door being forced and opened. The men entered the building emerged after a short period, returned to the main building, and then commenced to walk along the road in the direction of the detectives. Shots Fired in Air

"When they were nearly opposite me, I stepped oiit and called upon them to stop, saying 'Police,' " Detective Hunt said. "They stopped for a moment and then went off in different directions. 1 fired two shots with my revolver in the air and again called upon them to stop." Detective Hunt saw one man, later identified as Lawson, stop when Detective Brown approached him. Detective Mahood chased another to the right. Detective Wilson followed a man on witness' left, and witness joined in the chase. Another shot in the air from witness' revolver was ineffective, and witness ran round the front of the store to head the man off. When Detective Wilson was about three or four feet behind the man, both appeared to trip and fall, witness added. At the same time witness heard a gun discharge. When he caught up to the two, Detective Wilson was on top of the man and had his arms pinned down. The man, who was the accused Murphy, said, "Its all right. You know me." Care for Wounded Man

Murphy, who was wearing red rubber gloves, made 110 complaint at the time that he was hurt. It was not until three-quarters of an hour later, when witness had returned from a vain search with Detective Mahood for the ! third man, that lie knew lie was hurt. ! Everything was done to make him coni- ! fortable and he was later sent to hosI pital. Lawson, when questioned, said i that no third man was concerned. A ' tyre lever was found at the side of tlie store. Cross-examined by Mr. Sullivan, witness said he believed Detective Wilson shot Murphy. Corroborative evidence was given by Detective Wilson. When pursuing Murpliv witness fired two shots in the air, but Murphy continued on. A little later Murpliv appeared to stumble and at the same* time witness tripped and fell to the ground. As lie fell lie remembered his automatic being accidentally discharged. Witness jumped on to Murpliv and pinned him down. At the time Murpliv made 110 mention of being shot nor did witness know that he had hoc 11 injured. Cross-examined by Mr. Sullivan, witness said that when lie was chasing Murphy he had his revolver in his i*i<ilit hand. Carrying ol Weapons Mr. Sullivan: Do you usually carry automatics on expeditions of this sort!-' —Yes, frequently. Did you intend to use the gun on Murpliv at any time."' —No. Did you have your finger on the triggerY —Not that 1 can remember. witness added that the trigger was reasonably protected, although it was verv sensitive. Detective Brown related his capture of Lawson and the discovery of a mar-lin-spike, a torch and some putty. Detective Maljood said he found a rental car parked a quarter of a mile along the Pokeno-Thamcs Road. He accompanied Murphy to the Auckland Hospital, where a search of his clothes revealed two plugs of gelignite and live detonators wrapped in a handkerchief. Both accused pleaded not guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. "The nature of the evidence and of the charges makes it unwise to allow bail," said the magistrate in refusing an application by Mr. Sullivan.