LIVED LIKE RABBIT

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1932, Page 2

LIVED LIKE RABBIT

IN HOLE MADE BY QUAKE. IMPRISONMENT IMPOSED. NAPIER, September 27. "He was living in a crack in the ground caused by the earthquake like a rabbit in a burrow,” said Acting-De-tective A. Gillum, in the Police Court, when Robert McLean, a labourer, appeared before Mr A. E. Bedford J.P., on a charge of being idle and disorderly and having no visible lawful means of support. . The detective went) on to say that the ' accused .had been under observation i'or' the past 12 months, and he had never been i known to seek employment. Ho was a methylated spirits addict. He had, moveover, Been living with undesirable associates, three of whom had recently been before tlhe court. He had place some sheet iron over a crack in the ground and had been living there. Accused, entered a plea of not guilty, but his story from the witness-box did not satisfy Mr Bedford, who statf£l: “The kindest thing I can do to youfis to convict you and sentence you to imprisonment for one month.”