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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19902, 23 September 1926, Page 18

“Could you tell mo , the time?” asked a travel-worn youth of Detective Cooper, of the Wellington detective staff, as the latter waited on the Hamilton railway station last week for a train to bring him back to Wellington after giving evidence in a burglary case. “Certainly,” replied the detective, and gave the required information. A few minutes later the youth sat down beside him and engaged him in conversation. "I’ve had a long day,” said the boy, adding that ho had come all the way from Wellington, getting lifts on cars by the way and eventually reaching Hamilton on a truck. Acquintanco ripened with the passing minutes, and the youth became more expansive. “Some Maoris tried to play a joke on mo at Foilding, but I soon stopped them—with this.” He produced an automatic pistol from his pocket. The detective was immediately' interested. “Is it loaded?” he queried “Too right,” wa s the answer, “it's the best friend I’ve ever had.” “Have you pot any more?” asked the detective. “Sure,” replied the boy. and pulled out half a dozen more pistols from ''is pockets. “Dot’s have a look at one,” said Detective Cooper. The request was granted, the detective stowed the pistol away in one pocket and produced a pair of handcuffs, which he slipped on the boy’s wrists without delay. U transpired later, after the culprit had been taken to the Frankton Junction Police Station, that the nist/’s had all been stolen from a shop in Feilding, where the youth had originally worked.