PUT EXPLOSIVES ON TRAMLINE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 37, 13 February 1941, Page 6

PUT EXPLOSIVES ON TRAMLINE

YOUNG MAN PLEADS GUILTY YEAR-OLD MYSTERY EXPLAINED I Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Feb 12. An explanation of a mysterious explosion which damaged a tram at Berhampore in February a year ago was heard in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. A police detective produced a statement from a youth, aged 19, confessing to having placed a package of explosive on the tramline, “just as a joke.” Lester John McDonnell Collin, storeman and soldier, aged 19, pleaded guilty to having placed an obstruction on the tramline, namely, a i package containing a mixture of potassium chlorate and sulphur, in a manner likely to cause damage to valuable property. Thomas James Southwood, tramway motorman, said that on the evening of February 7, 1940, he was driving a tramcar from Island Bay to the city when the explosion took place. The next thing he knew was broken glass flying all round him from the windows and the door of the car. As a result of the explosion he was dazed and was not very clear what followed. He remembered stopping the car. There were at least half a dozen passengers on the tram at the time. Harold Leah, running stock superintendent of the Municipal Tramways Department, said he had examined the tramcar. The damage consisted of floor boards pushed up, the bottom of one of the seats broken and pushed up, two shield windows broken. The car was tested in the presence of the Public Works officials and was taken to pieces and zkamlned, and was found to be in good mechanical condition. The damage was estimated at £l6 6s 6d. The line was undamaged, but there were marks on the bitumen. Detective N. J. McPhee said he made inquiries about tjie explosion. On February 4 this year he interviewed Collin, who told him he had caused the explosion. Witness produced a statement signed by Collin saying that, about a year ago, he made up his mind to have a bit of fun. He had studied chemistry at Rongotai College, and knew that if mixed in equal parts potassium chlorate and sulphur made an explosive mixture which would detonate if struck. He broke into the Rongotai College laboratory and took some potasium chlorate and sulphur. He drove to Berhampore and placed on the line a bag containing about a teacupful of the mixture. Before he regained the car which he had left in a side street, he heard an explosion. He did this just as a joke, and did not intend to cause anyone any injury. He had never placed any irfle cartridges on tramlines.

The detective produced a bottle of potasium chlorate and sulphur which, he stated, had been found in the possession of the accused, and had been identified as having been stolen from Rongotai College.

Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M. committed Collin to the Supreme Court for sentence. Collin was one of a band of youths who appeared before a magistrate on a number of charges. Among them was breaking and entering, theft and conversion of motor-cars. It appeared that it was while these matters were being investigated that his connection with the tramway explosion was revealed.