TROUBLE ON A TRAIN

NZ Truth, Issue 606, 27 January 1917, Page 7

TROUBLE ON A TRAIN

« Richards and the Revolver A Sensational Shooting Episode The journey from Wellington to Auckland by the Main Trunk express is usually a monotonous one, but passengers by the express which left Thorndon on Thursday of last week, and arrived at Auckland the following Friday morning had the monotony broken by an Incident which occurred' Just after the train departed from Taumarunul, and which will m due course be THRESHED OUT AT THE POLICE COURT. The story of what occurred, as told by both "officials and passengers on the train Is clear out, and Is that when) the express , stopped at Taumarunui, amongst the passengers who boarded it was a man, who took his seat' in the third carriage from the engine. "When the train left Taumarunui, the guard, W. B. Duncan, Immediately commenced to check the passengers' tickets, and m the third carriage found a man named Richards, } who was minus a ticket and who said he was journey- ! Ing to Frankton Junction. He produced a pound note and was told that the fare would be Bs, 9d, which Included 6d extra as booking fee, because Richards had failed to purchase his ticket at the station. To the extra 6d being charged Richards strongly objected, and It Is alleged that he began abusing the guard, and on receiving his change (11s 3d), he followed Duncan through to the lavatory, still abusing him. Duncan threatened to glVe Richards In charge, whereupon; it is said, Richards went back into the carriage and eat down. A couple of minutes later those m the carriage noticed Richards get up and go out on to the platform. Almost immediately SHOTS WERE HEARB, and a passenger rushed along to the fifth carriage and Informed Guard Duncan that shots had been fired through the windows of the carriage m which Richards had had a difference with the guard over the fare. It was then found that one of the windows had been broken by bullets, and one lady sitting near the window had broken glass strewn over her. Richards was then seated In' the carriage ahead of the one into which the shots had been fired, and he remained there for about half an hour,, when ho returned to the one previously occupied by him. ' ' V s -'K On arrival at Te KuUI. Richards was pointed out to Sergeant Eccles, Who asked Richards to come on to the platform. Richards did so. but It is said that as he did so ho produced an automatic revolver from an inside pocket, but If he had any intentions of listing it they were frustrated, as the SERGEANT GRAPPLED WITH HIM. rind a struggle ensued, during which the revolver was discharged, but form* nately no ono was hurt. Then, aftor some trouble, the man was disarmed and taken to the police station, and on Friday morning was brought before the Te Kultl Court. • His name It) William Richards, ho la 44 years of ago and a married man living with his wifo and five children near To Aroha. Tho chargo aguln:u him was that he discharged a firearm on tho Te Kulti railway platform, nr.i'. on this he was remanded to appear :*; Auckland. It Is understood that otlvi charges will bfc preferred against him.