22 CHARGES PREFERRED

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1935, Page 9

22 CHARGES PREFERRED

MANY CRIMES ALLEGED CHRISTCHURCH MAN IN COURT. SHOOTING, BREAKING, CONVERSION ONE CHARGE AGAINST ANOTHER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Twenty-two charges, involving shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm, breaking and entering with theft, attempts to break and enter, conversion of motor-cars and pointing a firearm, were preferred against Leslie Pearce in the Police Court to-day. Pearce was arrested after a long chase through the streets of the city shortly before midnight on December 6 of last year. It was stated in evidence that during the chase Pearce several times threatened his pursuers with a loaded revolver. Robert James Mitchell, who lived in the same house as Pearce, appeared'on one count, to which he pleaded not guilty, of breaking and entering the premises of the Selwyn Hosiery Manufacturing Company, Ltd., with intent to commit a crime. The offence-occurred, it is alleged, on December 6 and the police claim that Mitchell was associated with Pearce on this night. Pearce pleaded guilty to all charges except one of discharging a firearm at Charles Bourke Bourne at Woodend with intent to do grievous bodily harm. All the charges were heard except those relating to the Woodend incidents. Mitchell was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, while Pearce was committed for sentence. Two brothers, W. E. Guy and Vernon N Guy, cycling past the company’s premises at 10.45 p.m. heard the burglar alarm and they saw two men getting over a fence. One brother proceeded to notify the police while the other endeavoured to keep track of the .mens movements. The brothers in evidence said that they Were unable to identify the men.* ,PEARCE’S EVIDENCE. In evidence against Mitchell, Pearce said he had known Mitchell for some years. On December 6 they went to the Selwyn Hosiery Company, had a look at the place, and decided it was “an easy thing.” One door was being forced by Mitchell when the burglar alarm rang and they left in a hurry. Subsequently witness was arrested by Constable Wootton after he had been followed through the streets. Pearce admitted pointing the revolver at Piper. Leslie Walter Piper said that he was stopped in the street by Vernon Guy, and as a result of information given to him he went to the Sydenham P°fice station He accompanied Constable Wootten to Madras Street Bridge. The men were near the top of the steps. One stopped them at the revolver point. The man said: “Stop, or I’ll let you have it. The man made a bolt down the steps of the bridge. , , i. Piper proceeded to detail how he continued in pursuit of the man as far as Latimer Sqiiare, where the man turned and said: “Stop, or I’ll let you have it. After a few minutes the constable arrived on a bicycle and the man made another break away. The constable rode up in front and bailed him up with his own gun. “As I came up at the rear I could see the man struggling to get something out of his pocket,” said Piper. The constable stopped him before he could.do,.anything. I held the man while the constable searched him. I saw the constable take something from him which I later knew to be a revolver.” . “The community owe a debt of gratitude to you for your persistency in coming to the aid of the police, said Mr. E. Mosley, S.M. “It was admirable conduct.”