MAN FOUND WITH BOMBS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 117, 20 May 1932, Page 7

MAN FOUND WITH BOMBS

A SENSATION AT AUCKLAND POLICE MAKE ARREST NEAR GOVERNMENT HOUSE SEQUEL TO SHADOWING OF COMMUNIST MEMBERS (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, May 19. Three bombs, two of them packed with gelignite and equipped with detonators and fuses, are in the hands of the police following a sensational arrest this afternoon. At about 3 p.m. Detectives Nalder and Packman arrested a Russian seaman, George Scrgeeff, aged 42. He was charged with knowingly having in his possession a bomb with intent to commit a crime. Accused was arrested near Government House and at the Police Station he was questioned by Inspector Hollis and SubInspector Gibson. Then he was taken by the detectives Io the Sailors’ Home, where he had been staying since he arrived in Auckland about April 4. On searching accused’s room Detective Nalder discovered a larger bomb with a detonator and fuse already attached, also a third bomb made, like the first one, out of a grease cup. This was filled with sulphur and had no detoMtor or fuse. Two of the bombs were packed with gelignite and had detonators and fuses already fixed. The second bomb found in the Home was about five or six inches long and made of iron piping. The arrested man speaks fairly good English with a Russian accent. Inspector Hollis said that for some days members of tho detective staff had been shadowing certain members of the Communist Party, and this afternoon the arrest was the sequel. Both bombs, filled with gelignite, were in the opinion of the police sufficiently powerful to blow up a large building.

FURTHER DISCOVERIES FUSE AND GELIGNITE [ Per t Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 19. A further search of Scrgccff’s room was made by tho detectives, who discovered further Jcngtns of fuse and additional gelignite. A paper signifying that accused had collected subscriptions to aid “families of strikers now in prison” was also found. This shows what ho has collected on behalf of tho movement and the amount he has collected, for

which a receipt is given. The amount shown is ]9s 6<l.

Scrgeeff is maintaining silence and he gave no detailed statement to the police. His information to the police was confined to the statement that h» arrivhd in New Zealand 12 years ago, leaving a Russian steamer at Lyttelton. This has corroborated ar.A it has been learnt that he had a furrier’s shop in Lyttelton. It is stated that Sergeeff first came under the notice of the Auckland police about a month ago, when he arrived from the south. Ho has been to unemployed meetings and has become a leading figure with a certain section.