“THIS IS THE GUNMAN”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19667, 27 June 1938, Page 7

“THIS IS THE GUNMAN”

YOUTH WITH REVOLVER HOLD-UP PROPOSED FAILED TO APPEAR (Par Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. “This is the gunman,” said DetectiveSergeant McKenzie, when the name of a 16-year-old boy was called in the Children’s Court this morning, but tire youth failed to appear. He was charged with being in unlawful possession of a firearm, a revolver, on June 3, and with carrying it without lawful purpose. Earlier in the morning two young men, previous owners of the weapon, had appeared on summons for breaches of the Arms Act, when DetectiveSergeant Dunlop told the magistrate, Mr. H. A. Young, the circumstances leading to the charges against the boy. Each of the young men was fined 10s. "The boy was reported to be in possession of a revolver and to be flourishing it outside the public library,” said Mr. Dunlop. "He flourished it through a window to girls in the office.”

The magistrate: What was the idea? Mr. Dunlop: I don’t know. He is a little scamp. He put up a proposition to another lad wiio lias been in Borstal to hold up the paymaster at the Addington workshops. The revolver had been stolen from one of them who had been prosecuted, added Mr. Dunlop, and the weapon had been confiscated.

The “gunman’s” mother said the youth was out of control. He came home late at nights, barricaded himself in his room, and then left in the early morning.

The magistrate said the police would have to Issue a warrant for the boy’s arrest.