MAN WITH £84O

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1931, Page 6

MAN WITH £B4O

A .MENTAL CASE. (By Teleyraph —Per Press Association) GISBORNE, .March 9. An unusual case came fie tore Justices this morning when a middle-aged man, named Robert Crosley, with L‘B4o in his possession, was convicted and discharged on a charge of having insufficient lawful means of support. Some three months ago. C’rosley was before the Court at Gisborne on a similar charge and surprise was occasioned when it was lound that he had Lll’2 Ids in Australian notes in his possession, liven more surprise was expressed to-day on l rosley s re-appear-ance, due to to his having been picked u)i on the road near T’olaga Bay, in almost a, state of collapse through starvation. He had been removed to the Tolaga Bay Hospital, where a nurse found that he had eight hundred and forty pounds in notes pinned in his coat lining.

Senior-Sergeant Wade explained that the man was brought before the Court lor his own safety, and that it had linen arranged lor Crosley to he taken to a mental Imme. Crosley replied that- he would sooner go hack to gaol, as the food there suit, ed hint. Gaoler Rieharson said that Crosie.v would sooner go back to gaol lor ten vears, if permitted. It didn’t cost him unvthing there, and all lie did was to sleep iu his bunk or lie in the sun. He was convicted and discharged on condition that he entered a mental home, the defendant's main objection being that, he would have to pay something for his hoard.