HUMAN SCARECROW.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4956, 26 March 1926, Page 4

HUMAN SCARECROW.

YOUNG VAGRANT SENT TO GAOL-

CLOTHES OLDER THAN HIMSELF.

An apparition in the form o£ a human scarecrow, with' tattered, clothing and with boots which failed altogether .to hide his stockingless feet, confronted Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, on Monday, on a charge of being idle and disorderly, with no visible means of support. His na.me was Robej't Alexander Andrew,. late of Northeim Wairoa, and his age was only 19

•years. According to Sergeant Cooper, who prosecuted, he had been wandering about the town since last Thursday week, doing no work, and sleeping. on the riverbank or in adjoining sheds. He had been committed for va.grancy only a short time ago/

Andrew had nothing to'say when asked by the Magistrate if he had any ■explanation to offer,- but . upon being pressed mumbled that “it couldn’t' be helped.” 'The Magistrate told, accused that he did not quite know what to do with him.' His was, a difficult! case',’ and a course in the Borstal Institute or some other p;ace of reformative detention, where he would be made to work and made to realise Ms responsibilities, seemed the best treatment for him. “Unfortunately,” continued His Worship, “I. can’t do that, as the law provides a term of only three months for this class of offence.”

Remarking, however, that he would have to send: him somewhere where he could not drift back to his lazy, slothful habits, His, Worship ordered Andrew a month's- quarrying work at the Mt. Eden Gaol. . ' ' /