COLLECTING A DEBT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20289, 23 December 1927, Page 10

COLLECTING A DEBT.

MASKED YOUTH WITH REVOLVER.

PROBATION AND A FINE

(Special to Daily Tim-s.)

CHRISTCHURCH, December 22

When a woman resident of Leeston * answered a knock at the back door on a recent night, she was confronted by a masked-youth, who pointed a revolver at her. The story concerning this incident was told in the Magistrate’s Court to-day before Mr H. A. Young, S.M. Stephen James Morigan, of Leeston, appeared on remand to answer the following charges; (1) That on December 12 he did present a revolver at Jane Marshall; (2) thta he was in possession of an unregistered firearm ; and (3) that h e did carry a revolver beyond the limits of his dwelling house. Accused pleaded guilty to all the charges. It was stated in evidence that Morigan had been employed by Mrs Marshall. When sh e opened the back door in answer to a knock a man whose face was covered by a handkerchief pointed a small revolver at her. Her son had subsequently found that the man was the accused.

In a statement to the police, Morigan declared that the Marshalls owed him money, which they had repeatedly refused to pay him. He Ipid resorted to those means to get the money. Mr Lyons, who appeared on behalf of the accused, stated that Morigan was at present holding a position on a farm, and bad always been a well-behaved boy. He had worked for the Marshalls for over 12 months; and they did actually owe him some £lO.

“ They are fabulously wealthy, but they would not pav anything away,” said Mr Lyons. The accused had said that he had been refused the money due him, counsel continued, and had been told by the Marshalls that they would “ knock him as fat as a pancake.” On one occasion the aon said that if accused came again he would put a charge of shot into him. Counsel added that when accused came into possession of the revolver he took that as a means of keeping his courage up and had no criminal intent.

The Probation Officer reported that the boy needed control of some sort, and recommended probation. “ I think that motor, cycle people have been at him to buy a cycle, and tnat should be stopped, for I have found that it does great harm to - some of these youths,” said Mr Darby. On the charge of pointing a firearm, accused was convicted and admitted to two years’ probation, a special condition being that he should not acquire or ride a motor cycle; for being in possession of an unregistered firearm, he was fined £1 and costs, one month being allowed him to pay; and on the third charge he was convicted and discharged. The revolver was confiscated.