DANGEROUS CRIMINALS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 208, 5 September 1935, Page 8

DANGEROUS CRIMINALS

THE AUCKLAND ARREST ACCUSED BEFORE COURT IMPRISONMENT IMPOSED ( I’er Press Association ) AUCKLAND. Sept. 4. Two dangerous criminals, arrested last night after a struggle in the dark ndss, appeared at the I’olice Court. They were William Boa Thomas, aged 26. and George Frederick Murpay, aged 39, both Maoris. They were charged with being rogues and vagabonds in that they were found armed with offensive weapons, namely sandbags, and found unlawfully by night within enclosed premises. Both pleaded guilty, but denied felonious intent. Detective-Sergeant .McHugh said he and Detective Findlay, in a patrol car at 5.30 p.m. noticed the accused in a taxi and trailed them to Panmure, whore they waited till darkness came. They went up a lonely road to the residence of Chinese. The detectives followed closely and saw them walk to the back of the house, as they returned IDetective Findlay flashed a torch on them and McHugh said, “ Hullo, Murphy, what are you doing here?” Murphy pulled out something from a pocket. Detective McHugh grappled with him, caught the sandbag and threw’ it on to the ground, and after a struggle overpowered him. Detective Findlay meanwhile held the other man at revolver point and then when Murphy was over powered, handcuffed him. The detectives found two sandbags on the ground. Each man had a glove on a hand and one had a torch. Detective Findlay said nearly two vears ago Chinese in the same house were brutally assaulted at four o’clock in the morning and the assailants had never been traced. The prosecutor said both men were dangerous criminals. The magistrate sentenced both to the ua.-.inium, 12 months’ hard labour, and Murphy to an extra three months for resisting Detective-Sergeant McHugh.