MONEY BY MENACES.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18169, 6 November 1930, Page 7

MONEY BY MENACES.

TOO MEN CHARGED. RAILWAY CLERK’B EVIDENCE. “PUT THE WIND UP.” (Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Wednesday. Francis Ernest Henry Pierce (17), an Australian,' labourer, and James Lewis, a Canadian (27), a seaman, were charged with demanding money by menaces, and with being idle and disorderly. They pleaded not guilty to the charge of demanding money, but admitted vagrancy. Meryn Bruce Osborne, of Cambridge Terrace, Wellington, a railway clerk on leave, gave evidence of how accused threatened him that unless he found £3 for them they would institute proceedings against him (Osborne) for interfering with Pierce. Witness, although he had £5 In his pocket told them he -would get the money at his hotel, on the journey to which he called a constable and laid a complaint. , . Osborne stated that their attitude was so threatening that it “put the wind up" him, .especially as Lewis told him not try any funny business while getting the money for them. Lewis denied that he was present, but the police said he had in his possession 3s 3d, Including two coins alleged to have been taken from Osborne. A key belonging to complainant was found on Pierce. Pierce said that'Lewis was not the man who was with him on the night in question. The magistrate 'Mr F. K. Hunt, committed both accused to the Supreme Court for trial on the major charge, the vagrancy charge being adjourned.