FELL VICTIM TO DRUG HABIT

NZ Truth, Issue 1240, 5 September 1929, Page 9

FELL VICTIM TO DRUG HABIT

Woman Addict "Flew In The Face" Of Probation Officer

DIFFICULT PROBLEM FOR MAGISTRATE

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

Although the number of victims, of noxious ; drugs' in New Zealand is practically negligible m comparison with ttie number m other countries, occasionally an addict is ; discovered and brought before the court a nervo"° ««'' mtma wrottr MAGISTRATES are occasionally puzzled as to what treatment should 'be meted out to these unfortunate people, who should be cured of, rather than be punished for, their vice...' : ,.~ -■• . "','••'" A- '"■ „. " Usually the "dope fiend", needs medical attention to cure him of his craving for drugs, but there is no institution m the Dominion to which he can be committed for this necessary treatment. '"''". ' . ' a; Nor does the small number of sufferers brought before notice of the authorities ; warrant the establishment of such an institution. . V ' 1 A woman addict, Myra Webster, aged 31, appeared m the Christchurch Magistrate's Court a few days ago, andA while she stood, With blanched face and trembling hands, m the dock, a. sordid 'story of her life m the city within the past; twelve months was told. .In 1926 the woman was placed ; on five years' probation m Auckland for an offence she had, committed, but about, a year ago she came to Christchurch where she has since lived. A breach of 7 her probationary license led to her appearance m the Magistrate's Court, when her mode of life was made known. Her counsel, Mr., W. J. Stacey, was m doubt as to how she should plead when' the charge against her was read out,' and asked that some of the evidence be given before he pleaded. A The Magistrate, Mr. E. C. Levvey, was not m favor of this unusual pro-

cedure being adopted, Mr. Stacey entered a forriial plea of not guilty. '.'"' The female probation officer, Adjutant CV "Coombs, said . that. Webster i had been under her supervision since pecember last. . A . The- Adjutant's predecessor had had trouble with her. Webster was always. complaining that she was a sick woman, but it . was found that she was suffering •from the effects of drugs and drink. Her conduct was immoral and within a short period she had lived m eight different houses; For a time she was living with a man, the couple being known as Mr. and Mrs. Stephens. Her conduct m the housesiri which she was living was bad, ,and. she had" drink brought into the premiises. Af he Adjutant indicated atfout a dozen whisky bottles ; which had . been brought into court and told the Magistrate that the woman's .'son had been seen carrying them away from \- the house m, which she was living at the time of her. arrest. y . At this stage Mr. Stacey interrupted the Adjutant, telling her that the evidence she had given would be sufficient. ' ;'. .-■ "y'\ .. y '. : .' V■' ; He then pleaded guilty and asked the /Magistrate. Jtb decide; th©/ case then -and -hot remand- the woman to appeal' at Auckland. He thought that m her state of health trayeiling:might affect her. Webster was remanded . for a week so that a medical report might bo ob- j tamed,-'- ■'"'• -..-A- -y^y-A^A-v -•'<• ■ yy-.y. . A