WINDSCREEN DAMAGED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 67, 21 March 1933, Page 4

WINDSCREEN DAMAGED

TWO SMALL HOLES DRILLED PROBABLY CAUSED BY BULLETS POLICE INVESTIGATING. Two holes, less than a quarter of an inch apart, in. the windscreen of a car, and apparently made by small bullets, led to the supposition that a highwayman was at large in the ParikinoUpokongaro district early on Sunday morning. Mr J. Higgins, a well-known resident of Upokongaro. reported that he motored to Parikino early on Sunday morning, and was on the return journey when ho heard his windscreen crack. The road was not by any mean-.* straight, the night very dark and rain was falling. An inspection revealed the two holes referred to. A subsequent examination brought to licht a piece of lead in the ba'ck of the vehicle. This was flattened to about tho size of a halfpenny and was thought to have been one of two bullets which had been fired.

Mr Higgins had attended a picture theatre in Wanganui on Saturday night. He drove to Upokongaro afterwards and looked in at tho Sports Club’s dance, which was in progress, driving his friends to Parikino later. He was at Pungarchu on the return journey when the mishap occurred.

Both holos were on a level with that portion of the windscreen which is directly opposite the head of the driver of the vehicle, but were a little too far to the left. So close were they that if the car was travelling 20 miles an hoar on a road that was not particularly straight the marksman must have been remarkably quick on the draw.

Police officials were reticent about the matter last night and at a late hour had nothing to report.