PETONE SENSATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11306, 4 September 1922, Page 4

PETONE SENSATION

ACCUSED BEFORE COURT A FIERCE STRUGGLE : FOUR SHOTS FIRED. JONES COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. A sensational story was told of the shooting affray which occurred in a coal yard at 39, Fitzherbert street, Petone, on August 25th, at the Petono Magistrate's Court on Saturday, when Benjamin Jonee, a coal-dealer, appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., snd was charged with attempting to murder Bert Spencer Morrison and Frederick Harrison, police constables. The prosecution was conducted by Senior Sergeant Bird, and Mir C. A. LTread well appeared for the accused. Constable Morrison stated that as a result of instructions received he went at 10 a.m. cn August 25th to the bouse of Benjamin Janes, in company with Constable Harrison, his purpose being to assist in the execution of a distress warrant for £3 19s 6d. Constable Harrison knocked at the back door, and got no reply. Harrison called out: “Are you there, JonesP” James replied: “Yes, I’m here,” and appeared at the door. Harrison said. “Yon know what we have come for,” and commenced to read tbe warrant. Jones interrupted: ‘T know all about that. I don’t want to hear it. I’m not going to pay it.” Witness then walked over to the hack of a lorry, and commenced to .lead the horse towards the gate. He got about to the front of toe lorry with the borse. Jones, who was about five, yards from tbe front gate, held up his left band and said: “Drop that horse.” Accused called out twice, and witness went on, when accused drear a revolver out of -his right trouser pocket and fired point-blank at witness. Accused was about ten yards away. He saw the flash and beard the report, and the horse jerked the chain out of .his hand. At the time witness was wUking sideways, with his side facing Jones. He then made straight for Jones, and when he was about half way to him, accused fired a second shot at Harrison. He saw him paint the revolver at Harrison, who was rushing towarcb Jones at the time. MORE SHOOTING. The constables closed with Jones, w Morrison landing on top. Witness looked accused’s leg, amd held on for Ms life. Accused struggled violently. While on the ground, accused. worked to get ilia finger round the trigger of his revolver, the point of which was pressing in the witness’s Stomach. Accused fired again, hut witness could not see what happened. The revolver was shifted a couple of inches mid another shot was fired. Witness clawed the revolver ont of Jones’s hand. On tbe way up accused was talking. He said to witness: “You ought to take off your coat and get work. The police are only a lot of , and they are shooting them every day in Belfast.” He had called at Jones’s boose nearly every day that week; he had been there the previous day at 10 am., when he saw Jones and earplained about the warrant, recommending Jones to pay without any trouble. Jones had replied: "You can bring wagon-thieves and law-breakers, and I’H still refuse, to pay, You oan apply to old Hunt for a. retrial. I want ter go to a higher Court.” Witness ten* - him he would be calling nest day to execute the warrant, and accused said: “You can do what you like.” On being cautioned, accused said: “I did not intend to hurt anyone.” He pleaded not guilty amd was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. An application for bail was refused.