TWO PRISONERS RESCUED PATIENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 46, 24 February 1931, Page 7

TWO PRISONERS RESCUED PATIENT.

GIVEN PROBATION ON CHARGES OF THEFT. (Special to the “ Star.”) NAPIER, February 23. Something of romance was narrated in the Napier Police Court to-day when two of the three men responsible lor rescuing Mr Gerhard Husheer from the ruins of Dr W. W. Moore’s hospital appeared to answer six charges. The two men concerned, Ernest Roy Barr, aged t-wenty, and Alfred William Hopewell, aged nineteen, pleaded guilty to five charges of wilful damage of penny-in-the-slot locks and one of theft of articles valued at 10s 9d from a hairdresser’s shop. The police evidence was that the men were waiting at the police station under suspicion for these charges when the big 'quake occurred. They were released on parole and at once set to work at their own risk to rescue the patients of Dr Moore’s hospital. These were two of the three men who rescued Mr Ilusheer from the building and the Senior-Sergeant had received cheques from Mr Husheer to present to the men. 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 not wanting in courage when it was needed. It is understood that each received a cheque for £25 from Mr Husheer, who is proprietor of the National Tobacco Company and a wealthy man, whose generosity, particularly at Christmas time when he makes large donations to hospital and other institutions, has made him a popular and respected figure in this district.