POLICE COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5187, 5 October 1927, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

INEBRIATES CONVICTED.

THREE ARRESTS YESTERDAY. At the Paeroa Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr E. Edwards, J.P.. an Indian, named Sham Singh, alias James Jackson, aged 47 years, was convicted and fined ssi for drunkenness in Normanb;.' Road on Monday afternoon. This morning, before Messrs P- E. Bre-nan a.nd W. F. North, J’s.P., a first offender, who did not appear, was convicted and fined the amount of his bail (£1) for drunkenness at Paeroa yesterday afternoon. It was stated by Coonstr.ble .;. Dawson that the defendant was in a state of helpless intoxication when arrested and taken to the lock-up. He was released on bail this morning, and appeared to be in a bad state of health. A middle-aged man, also a first offender, pleaded guilty to being drunk in Normanby Road last night. Constable McClinchy stated that defendant had arrived at Paeroa with his swag yesterday and had spent the day visiting the hotels. Last evening he was found lying on the street in a state of intoxication, and it had been necessary to use a motor-car to convey him to the lock-up. The constable pointed out that there were too many strange men coming into Paeroa with a few shillings in their pockets and getting into trouble. It was not fair to the. police to have to clean the place up of such people. The defendant was filthy dirty, and had given a good deal of trouble in the lock-up. The Bench entered a conviction, and defendant was finejd 10s and Costs, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment.

Another first offender, a labourer, was also charged with drunkenness at Paeroa yesterday afternoon. He pleaded guilty. In applying for the issue of a prohibition order Constable McClinchy stated that the defendant was a married man with three children. He had left a steady job with the Public Works Department, and was at present going about the town sharpening scissors and knives. The money he made was promptly spent on liquor. His- wife was destitute, and was receiving charity, and the children were ill-clad. The case had been reported to the Welfare Officer, who was also giving the family assistance.

A stern warning was given by the Bench, and defendant was advised that he could not carry on as; he had been doing during the last, few months. If he did not quicklj’ mend his ways he would find himself in serious trouble. He would be -convicted and ordere.d to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months. A prohibition order would also be iss-ued.