CHARGE OF VAGRANCY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4944, 26 February 1926, Page 2

CHARGE OF VAGRANCY.

YOUNG MAN IN TROUBLE.

STRAIGHT TALK FROM BENCH.

A young man or unkempt and dirty appearance napied Gordon Lewis Ensor was brought before Messi’s W. Marshall and F. E. Fight, J’s’.P., at the Paeroa Police Court yesterday afternoon, chargedwith being an idle and disorderly person without lawful means of support. Accused pleaded guilty and elected, to be dea.lt with summarily.

Constable McClinchy said that he had arrested accused near Komata that day. From information received it was found that .the young man had been given a lift in a, car from Auckland, and had reached Paeroa some time on Wednesday evening. About 1.30 o’clock yesterday morning he had forced his way into Mr J. Walls’ residence in. Arney Street and asked for bread and meat. Accused was turned out of the house by the. inmates and the police were informed of the occurrence. The constable said that in conversation accused had stated that his father was, deceased, and his mother, who lived in Auckland,. had turned him out of the home and would .not let him return. A conviction for drunkenness and obscene? language ha,d beejn entered against -accused : at - Auckland about 18 months, ago. Witness said that in his opinion accused Should be put out of harm’s way for a while, and in the meantime the police would and find work for him.

In answer to the Bench accused' said that he was about 22 years of age. He corroborated the statement made by Constable McClinchy, and added that he had come into ,the district to try and find work.. If he could get a job he would be quite prepared to work. He admitted that he ha;d been convicted previously at .Auckland. '

Addressing the accused, Mr, Marshall said that it wa3 a terrible pity to 'see a young man start out on such a career. He appeared a strong, heajthy person who should be able to ,work. In any case, because he was out of work was no excuse for breaking into a residence. ,He had laid himself? open to three months’ imprisonment. -

In reply -to question from the Bench accused said that he had been out of work for about six weeks, and had slept in a wash-house- in Vincent Street, Auckland. He was'a labourer, and had been last employed as a general farm hand. He supposed his mother would not keep him at home because he had no work to go to. In answer to Mr Flatt Constable McClinchy said .that accused had no money when searched, and only the clothes he stood up in. Accused rejoined that he had lost a bag containing his personal effects in Paeroa on Wednesday night. He did not know ‘why he was going to Komata, unless i.t was to find work. Jn convicting and sentencing accused to seven days’ -haj-d labour at Thames gaol the Bench remarked that they hoped it would serve as a warning, and that when released accused would make an honesty endeavour to find work and settle down and become a better citizen.