BOY BANDITS.

NZ Truth, Issue 265, 23 July 1910, Page 5

BOY BANDITS.

PRANKS AT PARAPARAUMU.

Loaded Revolvers and Startled Chinkies.

Dead-wood Dick Literature Again.

Emulating Joe Poweika.

The two youths, Charles King, lt>£ years, and Frank Deanc, 16 years, who made a name for themselves at Paraparaumu, on Sunday, July 10 last, were brought before Mr W. G-. Riddell, S.ftl., at the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Thursday morning, when they were charged with having, on the date m question, being armed with* an offensive weapon, to wit, a revolver, assaulted Yong King with intent to rob him.

Sub-Inspector Norwood prosecuted, and the Hon. T. W. Hislop appeared for the two accused.

The first witness was an under-sized, cheeky-looking Cantonese, Avbo answered to the name of 'Yong King. Yong King is a market gardener of Paraparaumu, and on the morning ol July 10 was m his cabin, or whare, when he heard a knock at the door. It was open at the time, and Yong King going forward was confronted by two youths, who presented shooting irons. Both said something, but 'what* 'that something was Yong King could not say. * While saying "this something the pair pointed the revolvers, whereupon Yong ran off for his mate, Yong Tim, and called out. The Chi-nfcs gave chase, and one of the boys (Deane) ran into the bush, while King stood at the fence. Yong Tim pursued King, who turned round uud fired. The distance separating them was abouu six or eight yards. King, lika^Jack and Jill of old, then went up the "bill, and tlio Chinks gave up "the chase.

& start.led-looking scare-crow: ol a Chink was Yong Tim, who tolU a story of King having twice fired a revolver at him. Whatever King said when he* fired his pop-gun was , Greek to Tim, who doesn't speak the liJnglish tongae, and even experienced considerable diiiiculty m understanding the Chinese interpreter.

William McDonald Oiunie, a farmer ol Paraparauma, said that, on the morning of July 10, he was m his cow-yard when he saw and heard the two Chmiiies near the bush. The boy King was being chased by Yong Tim, and -lie pointed a revolver at him and fired. The -boy was then about thirty yards away from Tim. lying then got on the railway gate, and,* pointing his revolver, said, "Stop, you , or I'll shoot you." He did not discharge the revolver on a second occasion. Vonj Tim stopped and King walked over the hill. When King fired at the Uiunlc the witness did not hear him say anything. James Lean, a tablet porter, residing at Paraparaumu, was m his garden on the morning of . July 10, when he heard some shouting and calling, and saw the Chinks m pursuit of King. He als o saw King fire a revolver at one of the Uiiinamen.

Charles H<xiry Rainsford, a storekeeper, gave evidence concerning tahe occurrence. He telephoned to Constable Siaftery, of Otaki, and subsequently, with a man named Heffer, drove to some bush not far from Yong King's garden. Deane was overtaken, and be was questioned. He was asked what he was' doing there, and said he had been over to t-he creek lor a drink. He was taken into the trap and searched. , A revolver, loaded m six chambers, was found m his possession. Deane was subsequently handed over to Constable Satherlcy. Subsequently a search was made for a revolver m a baclc-water of the Waikanae River. The revolver (produced) was found. It was seven chambered, and. loaded m sis. . The seventh had an empty cartridge case. An examination of the others showed that one had evidently misfired. , ,

Constable Satherley, o£ Otaki, said that on the morning of July 10 he received certain information, and went to Parapaiaumu. On the way thither lie met King, two miles north 61 Paraparaumu.. He .(witness) spoke to him and asked where he came from and his name. He gave the name of Hatley, and said he came from Ngliauranga, ami was going to Palmerston North to see his uncle. Witness had no suspicion that King was the individual wanted, and he lelt him and*, went on to the scene of action.. There he meb Messrs Raiusford aad Heffer, who "were holding the accused, Deane, m" a trap. Rainsford said that Deane was one of those who had stuck up the Chinaman. Witness handcuffed tiic accused and searched him, and, among other things, found a number of cartridges. Rains-ford handed over the revolve?:. J>san« was. transferred «c Satherley's tray. &i-u was then charged. Hie said "is name was Prank Wilson. Having gat full particulars from tlie Chinamen, Saiiherley weSit m search of King. m teie tra» Deane said he came from Melbourne and had stowed away. He said that ha. weufc "with, his mate to get some money, aud that his mate asked him Co go with liuri to s'ticlc the Chicameii mi> jvpd get some money. He did not fire tbc .-shot aixd did not intend; to shoot anybody. He j&itl that he (King or Hafclcy) wanted the money to gtt to Australia* Subsequently. King was overtaken at Te Aro. He was on the. road going towards Otaki. ness drove up and told Mm to pill up. He pulled lite hands out of his pocket and held them up. Kiug was got into the trap, and Satherley, on searching him, found a cartridge, but no revolver. Sattierley asked whero his revolver was, and he said that he hail thrown it o~e* the bridge into the river. He gave the aama of Hatley, and was charged. He admitted firing one shoU at the Chinaman. He had, ho said, gone *to the Chinaman's house and told the GhJnk. to hold lus bands up. The Chow did so- when he limited the revolver at him and jumped- away and ran out of the dtoor. Tliisj- then ran away into the bush, and, seeing' i.\w Ghroatnan following, had fii&d over his H^ad, not intending to hit him. He had thW "jot on. a fence and . pointed at the Chinaman, but did not fire. An unsuccessful "gcairch was made for King*; revolver, fcn£ a quantity of cartridges were found. Dt^ipe-. tive Cassells came up at this sta^e. Accused King made no secret of his movements. The revolver (produced) was subsequently given to witness by Rains'onU The cartridges found fitted Dearie's revolver.

Detective Cassells gave evidence of having seen the accused at Waikanap on the morning of July 10. King admitted tiio offence "and gave the name of Hatley,. and said that he was a stowaway From 31p'bourne. Casselis corroborated most of the evidence given by Satherlnv* cowci'.vning the admissions of King. King said further that the whole tiling \yas caused by Powelka, and hy reading li De:i(i\vood Dicks."' Deane made admissions of ha-vi»>g accompanied King. lie pave the naw: at Wilson. Both accused were -bro-ugfet *-» Wellington. Both boys -were charged. .Neither had anything t.o say. Both, pleaded S«JH"j- and were committed for sentence to the Supreme Court, Wellington. Bail was lowed. ' ~