A DENTIST'S DOWNFALL

Southland Times, Issue 18851, 17 June 1920, Page 6

A DENTIST'S DOWNFALL

DRUGS AND DRINK, A CHARGE OF THEFT. (Special If' the Time?.) CHRISTCHURCH, June IR. The son- of the downfall of a dentist owing in the use of drugs and indulgence in liquor, was told in the Christchurch Magistrate's Coon before Mr V. G. Day. S.M., this morning, when John Pitcait.hly (Mr C. S. Thomas i appeared on a charge of me theft of a gold watch and chain, the prooerty of Ellen Stuart, and valued at v<) IDs. Accused pleaded guilty. Chief-Detective Mcllveney stated that Pitce.ith!y was at the house of a friend when she asked him to assist, her in opening a box. He did so. and after taking out the property required, handed back the keys. Complainant was suspicious and asked another friend to open the trunk. She then found that the watch and chain were missinr. The watch had since been discovered at a pawnbroker’s. .Accused had had no previous trouble of that nature. He was a dentist and had owned a good business in Invercargill but was addicted to drink. Hr had stayed at an inebriates’ home for six months. \t ■ [) ; . v :It is useless to send such a man (o a home for less than two years. ; 'hirf-I n-tecti ve Mcllveney stated that his family hud recognised that, but they did not know why be had been sent away so M) til. Mr Thomas said that the man’s case •,vcs rather unfortunate. The death of his wife had caused him to in-come addicted to drugs and drink. As far as the theft was concerned, one of his brothers had paid up ul.) to the owner of the watch to settle all claims in that direct ion. All the family canted to do was to sec I itcaithly reclaimed. Mr Day: It is becoming useless, in my opinion, to send people to Rotoroa. as they are let out too soon. If the relatives bother the authorities the line of least resistance i- ;o let the patient out. Medical testimony shows that two years is the minimum time mui-i-d to rid the system of drink. The case was adjourned to permit of a written application for committal to the home being made by the relatives.