“PARASITES.”

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1929, Page 5

“PARASITES.”

THREE VAGRANTS share TWOPENCE. PA EMMRSTON’S HOSPITALITY. PALMERSTON N., Jan. 5. Doing no work, soliciting free drinks three labourers living on the kindness of Palmerston North for some time past, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this morning on charges of vagrancy. AVhion arrested, their total wealth was twopence. They were: Peter McDonald, no fixed abode, aged 67 years; Albert Edward Whitcombc, alias Whittaker,’ aged 48; and Thomas Patrick Drary, with five aliases, aged 58. Messrs R. Edwards and J. Loom be, J.P/s wore on the Bench. All three pleaded not guilty. Senior-Sergeant "Whitehouso said Mo Donald had been hanging around town for thirteen days. Detective E. Barling found him sleeping out. McDonald said he had a horse, harness. and cart, besides £IOO in property. He had been hero for twenty or thirty years, but had not faced that charge before.

Detective Barling said he found McDonald sleeping under the stars on December 25tli. Ho had since existed on “sponging” on different people. “When arrested,” he continued, “the trio had fastened on to a man from Tauamaranui with £20.”

Senior-Sergeant iWliitehouse: And I think they made pretty good use of him. They did not leave much with him.

Detective Barling agreed. McDonald was convicted and discharged and ordered by the Bench to leave town immediately. Constable Col bourne said he had made the acquaintance of Whitcomb© two weeks ago. Ho had been put out of hotels, and told to leave Palmerston North, and had been sleeping out. Ho had defied the police.

Sergeant Power said accused was 3 nuisance, and a perfect pest. Ho had been hanging round the bars, cadging, in a filthy, drunken condition. Accused, who had a fair list of previous convictions, was sentenced to a month’s hard labour.:

Constable Colbourne said Drury had ignored requests made to leave Palmerston North. A hotel proprietor had ejected him promptly when lie found him asleep on one of the beds at night, this week. He kept the*company of a convicted thief. Detective Barling said Accused was one of the three parasites who had clung to the town. He was fairly respectable when he came, but had drifted. Ho never possessed money.

After seeing a list of previous convictions of accused’s the Bench sentenced him to a month’s imprisonment, with hard labour.