RUSSIAN WITH BOMBS

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 124, 20 May 1932, Page 3

RUSSIAN WITH BOMBS

Charged With Gelignite AN AUCKLAND SENSATION MEMBER OF COMMUNISTS (Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, Last Night. Three bombs, two of them packed with gelignite and equipped with detonators and fuses, are in tho hands of the police following a sensational arrest this afternoon. At about 3 p.m. Detectives Nalder and Packman arrested a Russian seaman, George Scrgocff, aged 42. Ho was charged with knowingly having in his possession a bomb with intent to commit a crime. The accused was arrested near Government House. He was taken by dcdctcctives to the Sailors’ Homo, where ho had been staying since ho arrived in Auckland about April 4. On searching the accused’s room Detective Nalder discovered a larger bomb with, 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 detonator or fuse. Two of the bombs Were packed with gelignite and had detonators and fuses already fixed. The second bomb found in tho home Was about five or six inches long and made of iron piping.

The accused man speaks fairly good English, with a Russian accent.

Shadowed by Detectives

Inspector Hollis said that for some days members of the detective staff had been shadowing certain members of the Communist Party, and this afternoon’s arrest was a sequel. Both of the bombs filled with gelignite were, in the opinion of the police, sufficiently powerful to blow up largo buildings. A further search of Sergeeff’s room was made by detectives who discovered further lengths of fuse and additional gelignite. A paper signifying that, the accused had collected subscriptions to aid the (C families of strikers now in prison.” was also found. This shows that he had collected on behalf of the movement, and the amount he collected and for which a receipt is given, is 19s 6d.

Prisoner Reticent Sergeeff is maintaining silence, and he gave no detailed statement to the police. His information to the police was confined to a statement that he arrived in New Zealand 12 years ago, leaving a Russian steamei' at Lyttelton. This has been corroborated, and 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 tho south. Ho has been to unemployment meetings and had become a leading figure with a certain section.