DANGEROUS CRIMINALS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1935, Page 7

DANGEROUS CRIMINALS

arrest after struggle TRAILED BY POLICE IN CAR. CAUGHT NEAR HOME OF CHINESE. SCENE OF A FORMER ASSAULT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Sept. 4. Two dangerous criminals appeared in the Police Court to-day. They were William Poa Thomas, aged 26, and George Frederick Murphy, aged 39, both Maoris. They were charged with being rogues and vagabonds in that they were found armed with offensive weapons (sandbags) and were found unlawfully by night within enclosed premises. Both pleaded guilty, but they denied felonious intent. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said he and Detective Findlay in a patrol car at 5,30 p,m. noticed the men ip a taxi and trailed them to Panmure, where they waited till darkness came. They then went up a lonely road to the residence of a Chinese. The detectives followed closely and saw them walk to the back of the house. As they returned Detective Findlay flashed a torch on them and DetectiveSergeant McHugh said, “Hullo, Murphy, what are you doing here?” Murphy pulled something from his pocket. Detective-Sergeant McHugh grappled with him, caught a sandbag and threw it on the ground. After a Struggle he overpowered Murphy. Detective Findlay meanwhile held th© other man at revolver point and then, when Murphy was overpowered, he handcuffed him. The detectives found two sandbags on the ground. Each man had a glove oh his hand and one had a torch. Detective Findlay said that nearly two years ago the Chinese in the same house were brutally assaulted at 4 ©’©lock in the morning and the assailants were never traced. Th© prosecutor said that both men were dangerous criminals. Th© magistrate sentenced both to the maximum penalty, 12 months' hard labour, and Murphy to an extra three months for resisting Detective-Sergeant McHugh,