“WORTHLESS WASTER”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3719, 19 November 1927, Page 2

“WORTHLESS WASTER”

REPORTS OWN DEATH TO WIFE. Dunedin, November 18. Characterised by the Chief Detective as a “worthless waster,” a young man named Edward Gillespie was' before the Police Court charged with delivering for transmission .without their authority telegrams purporting to be signed by William John Gillespie and Myrtle Olive Leggett respectively. According to the facts outlined in the Court, the accused’s wife had been taken to her home by her parent's because he had not maintained her, and, unsuccessful in his endeavours to get her hack, the accused had sent telegrams purporting to be signed by his father and his aunt respectively, to the effect that the accused was dead find was to be buried next day. The bluff did not come off, and, going to Timaru, the accused assaulted his wife. The accused was before the Court on 2nd July on a charge of theft, stated Chief Detective Cameron. -He had stolen a watch and chain when visiting a friend’s house, anl ,had been admitted to probation for a period of two years. At that time it had been explained that the accused had got a motorcycle on approval and had ridden to Balclutha without letting his wife know. He also had a wireless set •on approval, which was then seized. After the prosecution the parents of the accused’s wife came to Dunedin and took her back to Timaru, as the accused had made no effort to maintain her. The accused, unable to get his wife to a-e-' turn to him, sen-t two telegrams from the local post office, one purported to be signed by his father, and the other by his aunt. These stated that the accused was dead and was to be buried next day. As his .wife did not rome to Dunedin the accused went to Timaru and attacked her. At the time he had a razor in his possession, and this was seized by his wife. As the re suit of the assault the accused was brought before the Magistrate in Timaru and bound over to keep the peace. Being unable to find money, he was still is custody. “He will not work, and may be characterised as a worthless waster who does not realise his responsibilities to his wife,” said the Chief Detective. t The accused was sentenced to twelve months’ reformative treatment.