DRANK METHYLATED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 167, 8 March 1932, Page 5

DRANK METHYLATED

POLICE WITHDRAW INDICTABLE CHARGE AGAINST RUSH DIFFICULT CASE Stating that it was difficult to know what to do with a man of the type, Senior-Sergeant Carroll, in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court yesterday intimated that the police intended to withdfaw an indietable charge of breaking, entering, and theft preferred against a man named John Joheph Herbert Rush and ask for a penalty upon a less serious charge of wilful damage. Rush was the man who was discovered on the premises of P. R. McGill, wine and spirit merchant, in the early hours of the morning of Fehruary 25. The police stated that the accused had been drinking methylated spirit and that it had been necessary to place him under medical treatment in order to remove the effects of the spirit. In addition to the charge of breaking and entering, with the theft of a bottle of whiskey, Rush was charged with breaking a window in the Palace Hotel. He pleaded guilty on both counts. Senior-Sergeant Carroll stated that on the morning of February 25 the porter at the Palace Hotel had been aroused by the sound of knocking. On answering the door, he had found the accused, who had asked for a drink. When he was refused, Rush had gone off in the direction of McGill's premises and afterwards a window in the hotel was found to have been broken Residents in the vicinity of Me. Gill's had been aroused by the sound of broken glass and one young lady. loolcing out, had seen the accused in the- act of climbing through a window, into the building. She had attracted his attention, hut Rush had merely waved his hand and proceeded to get inside. ^ Smelt of Methylated Spirit The Sergeant stated that he had investigated the matter himself and on climbing through a broken window had found the accused "happily seated in the chair in Mr. McGill's offiee with a bottle of whiskey in his pocket." Rush had admitted breaking the windows and a claw hammer had been found in his pocket with which he had smashed the glass. The man smalt strongly of methylated spirit at the time and it had been necessary to eall in a doctor to attend to him. Apparently the accused had started a drinking bout during the races and had continued for some time. He appeared to he a weakling under the influence of liquor and admitted himself that when drunk he had absolutely no control over his craving for liquor. He was not a dangerous type, however. and appeared to be quita harmless. Under the circumstances the police had decided to withdraw the indietable charge and proceed only upon the less serious count. The Magistrate remarked that apparently the accused required some sort of discipline to keep him away from liquor. He would be - admitted to a term of three years probation with special condition that he take out a prohibition order against himself.