SOLDIER'S OFFENCE
FIRING OF A RIFLE A young soldier associated with the home defence force, Lewis Cooper Morton, pleaded guilty in the Police Court yesterday to a charge of discharging a .303 calibre rifle near Webber Street, Grey Lynn, on August 10, and endangering the life of Albert David Barnett.
Sub-Inspector Calwell said defendant was issued with the rifle by the Army and tried it out with an old cartridge, from which he claimed he removed the bullet and filled with soap. However, a man found the bullet, after it ricochetted from a stone in some grass near where he was standing. Defendant said he removed all but a quarter of the cordito from the cartridge, and when he fired it he knew it would not have sufficient power to endanger anyone's life. "It probably had enough power to kill a man, and it was a very foolish thing to do," said the magistrate, Mr. J. Morling. A fine of 10s, with costs, 15s, was imposed.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23767, 21 September 1940, Page 13
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166SOLDIER'S OFFENCE New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23767, 21 September 1940, Page 13
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