DRUNK-NOT TOO DRUNK

NZ Truth, Issue 1149, 8 December 1927, Page 10

DRUNK-NOT TOO DRUNK

Two Cracksmen Pay A Call On Methven Shop

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.)

"TJAVE another (hie) one wi' (hie) me, boy." As soon as one drink was consumed the two men m a Methven hostelry clamored for another until they just did not know quite-' where they were.

AT least, so it would seem, but although Hastings Garfield Ireland

and Alexander Thompson, two of rural Methven's undesirable residents, drank themselves stupid, they were not dense enough — although Ireland was said to be on the verge of delirium tremens — to be incapable of planning a very careful burglary and putting lt into effect.

Nor was Ireland drunk enough not to know that a fire at the burgled shop would remove all traces of his crime.

But as a result of the activities of Detectlveß L. Studhplme and J. Maine, of Christchurch, these two rural crooks have been given reformative detention for a period of three years.

There was good reason to believe that the two cracksmen had premeditated the crime before they entered the hostelry, but they thought that a good priming would imbue them with the amount of Dutch courage necessary to put the job over and get away with it.

Thus, a full cargo of liquor aboard, the two rolled out of the hotel and along the quiet street m the direction of the little crib they had decided to crack.

Somehow, by some means — drunk though they were — they effected an entry to a shop

and secured goods

valued at £65.

Making up the swag ln a bundle,

they rolled them-

selves out of the

township and finally halted for a breather.

In the meantime Ireland had had a brain wave. What was the use of leaving clues and traces of the night's work behind them for the police to discover? No, better a little cleansing fire than detection.

And then, still slightly muddled, Ireland wandered back to the

township intent on burning down

the shop. But that was as far as it got. There was an attempt, but

fortunately nothing more serious

It was not long before the police were on the trail, and the two rural burglars found themselves m trouble. Realizing the game was up, they gave the police every assistance and pleaded guilty to the offences when they faced the court.

Lawyer M. J. Burns put up a strong plea for Ireland, -\yho mentioned his wife and family of; six children. Not only had he to keep them, but he was helping to maintain his aged mother, who was 90.

Both Ireland and Thompson had been on a drinking bout and went straight out of the hotel and committed the offence.

So far as Ireland was concerned, said counsel, his recollection of the affair was very hazy indeed, as he was almost on the verge of delirium tremens and did not know what he was doing.

Ireland had never been m any trouble before, and counsel submitted that his present lapse was due to drink' and probably arose also out of a, suggestion from the other man, who had previous convictions.

Lawyer Burns: His trouble is drink, there is no doubt about it.

Spirit Moved

His Honor: When a long practice of drinking to excess leads to the theft of goods valued at £65 and an attempt to burn the premises to conceal the theft, it is impossible to cover up the act with the mantle of charity. Counsel; I submit he was more fool than criminal.

The Judge: That/ could possibly be said of every criminal, could lt not?

Speaking on behalf of Thompson, Lawyer Frank Sargent said his man had had a very unfortunate upbringing m early years and never had a chance. One of a family of eight children, his father was a drunkard and Thompson had been obliged to shift for himself.

He had been convicted for a number of offences up to 1925, but had since taken himself m hand until the present offence.

Counsel contended that the real culprit was Ireland, who, unfortunately, had gained control over him.

Lawyer Brown, who appeared on behalf of the Crown, informed his

honor that the police had been un-

able to find anybody m Methven who had a good word for Ireland, who was regarded as a loafer.

As for Thompson, it was true he had tried to pull himself together during the past year or so, but he had a long record of previous convictions. The judge said

'■ there seemed n o doubt that both men were under the influence of liquor at the time of their offences, and if the statement made by counsel that they got Into such a state was correct, it not only illustrated the fact that a large proportion of crime came from excessive indulgence m drink, but that m the present case some inquiries should be made by the police.

If it were true that they remained m the hotel priming themselves into the state they got into, it certainly looked a serious matter for the hotel, and proceedings should be taken.

But drink was no answer or excuse, and it seemed fairly obvious that the crime was determined upon some time before its commission. „

His honor said it was impossible for him to make any distinctions between the two, and both Ireland and Thompson would be sentenced to reformative detention for a period of not more than three years.