MENACE TO COMMUNITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2896, 13 June 1925, Page 3

MENACE TO COMMUNITY.

RUSSIAN GETS THREE YEARS. Auckland, Last Night. Zaelmr Shostack, a Russian, came up for sentence at the Police Court to-day on a charge of wilfully damaging a window, valued at £lO, the property of St. Paul’s Church Trustees, and also on a further charge of assaulting Constable Callaghan. Constable Roberts said accused called at the police station one morning recently and confessed to breaking a window in St. Paul’s Church. In a statement, Shostack said be was seeking revenge on the Roman Catholic Church, but that be made a mistake and broke a window in the wrong church. He said he wanted to show his body was alive and that it was not a mere spirit.

The Magistrate (Air Poynton) : “This man has strong homicidal tendencies. He might blow up a church. He will have to be placed under restraint for the safety of the public.” Senior-Sergeant Edwards said inquiries had been made in an endeavour to have Shostack deported, but owing to the fact that lie had been in the country for three years, nothing could he done. “We will just have to put up with him,” added the Senior-Sergeant. Accused had been sent back to England on his way to Russia, but was allowed to land, and it was difficult (o get a shipping company to take him away. Mr Poynton: “.The. whole tiling is absurd. We do not want him here.” In broken English, Shostack said he wanted to go hack to England, where he would he with some of: his own people.” “I’ll he a better man when T get back.’!’ lie said. Concerning the charge of assault Constable Callaghan stated that on the last occasion when Shostack was before the Court, witness was escorting him to the police van, when Shostack struck him, and afterwards, when witness closed with him, accused bit witness’s linger so badly that lie had to receive medical addition. Shostack then made n vicious 'attempt to kick witness.

Mr Poynton: “This man is a menace to the community and will have to he pu| away for as long as possible. He will be sentenced to three years’ reformative detention.”