COURAGE REWARDED

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1931, Page 7

COURAGE REWARDED

YOUNG MEN ON PAROLE,

STORY TOLD IN POLICE COURT.

An unusual story was unfolded in the Napier Police Court on Monday, when two of the three men who were responsible for rescuing Mr. Gerhard Hu sheer, managing director of the National Tobacco Company, Port Ahuriri, from the ruins of Dr. W. W. Moore’s hospital, appeared before Messrs., A. E. Bedford and C. D., Cox, J.P.’s, to answer six charges. The two young men concerned were Ernest Roy Barr, aged 20, and A. W. Hopewell, aged 19, and they pleaded guilty to five charges of wilful damage of penny-in-the-slot locks and one of the theft of articles valued at 10s. from the shop of Norman Kivcll, hairdresser. , Senior-Sergeant Stark said accused were waiting, at • the police station in connection with these charges when the bjg earthquake occurred. They were released on parole and at once set to work, at their own considerable personal ►•'risk, to rescue patients from Dr. Moore’s hospital. They were two of the three men who rescued Mr. Gerhard Husheer from the building, and witness had received cheques from Mr. Husheer to present to these men. Detective Farquliarson. gave evidence I as to the charges to which the two accused had pleaded guilty. He said they had visited Hawke’s Bay from Palmerston Nohth. The police report as to their character, received from Palmerston North, waij.to the effect that they were of the larrikin class. The two accused were convicted and admitted to probation for a year,. the Bench remarking that it was difficult to understand their case since they apparently were ,ridt -wanting in courage when it was needed. It is understood that the young men have each received a cheque for £25 from Mr. Husheer as a mark of appreciations of theif actions ou the day of the earthquake.