SEEK AND YE —

NZ Truth, Issue 1136, 8 September 1927, Page 6

SEEK AND YE —

Laborers Make Bad Milliners (Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Rep.) Some amusing incidents cropped up during the heaping of a burglary charge preferred against Joseph Nicholls and William Murphy, laborers, m the Wellington Magistrate's Court last week. BOTH the accused entered the premises of a ladies' millinery establishment m the capital city recently m search of gain: Instead, they came away empty handed m the custody of a policeman. The, arresting constable, when giving his evidence, said one of the accused had threatened him with a hammer that was lying- handy. Murphy: Who threatened you with a hammer? — Nicholls. Nicholls: Is that one of your own? The constable: No, it isn't. "I'LL SHOOT" Continuing his evidence, the constable said one of the accused placed his hand over his pocket and said: Stand back; I've got a gun here and I'll shoot. Murphy: Speak a little louder, please; I can't hear you. When the statement was repeated, both the accused denied the soft impeachment. It was the constable who had threatened them with a gun m the passageway leading to the back of the premises. • ' ~ y "You were very "excited," said Nicholls, "and were wrestling with one of the wooden women and said 'hands up' when you came into the shap." "Not at all," said the P.C, amid general laughtei', and the court orderly's stentorian "silence." Murphy: Who did you say threatened you with a gun? The constable: Nicholls. You said Murphy just now. — Oh, no I didn't. Turning to the clerk of the court, Murphy said: Please read over those depositions again. When that portion of the constable's evidence relating to the mention of the gun was read over and the matter established beyond doubt that Nicholls was the man the constable stated had mentioned the gun, Nicholls turned towards the constable m the witnessbox and said: "How long did it take you to rehearse that page?" (Laughter). TAXI HIDE The constable stated that the accused appeared to have had some liquor, and this statement was corroborated by another witness who assisted the constable m placing the accused m a taxi and accompanying them to the station. Both the accused pleaded guilty, but Murphy qualified his plea with the remark that he hadn't any recollection of the happenings m the shop that night. In short, he was drunk. Magistrate Page committed both the accused to the Supreme Court for sentence.