TOO FAT FOR PRISON

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 306, 17 March 1928, Page 28

TOO FAT FOR PRISON

TOOK UP TOO MUCH ROOM A HUGE APPETITE When William J. Harrigan, itinerant organiser of a fraternal order, arrived in Kansas City, Missouri, recently, he had some difficulty in getting hotel accommodations. Weighing close on to 400 pounds, he demanded large quarters. Finally he got what he wanted. As large as he was. his appetite proved to be larger. He ate enormous quantities of food, and when the hotel presented its bill for payment, he asked the clerk if they would mind waiting until his expense check came from the home office of the order for which he said he was travelling. Under normal circumstances the hotel management m 5 'it have waited. But Harrigan, the -otel manager noticed, ate enough for four average men. His dining-room bill ran into imposing figures. When the second bill was presented and Mr. Harrigan still had not recived his expense check, the hotel manager decided to shift the burden, as it were, to the police. The patrol arrived to take Mr. Harngan to the station. Here a problem presented itself. There was too much ©I Harrigan to, fit the door of the patrol. Rather than perform an operation on the doorway, the police escorted Ilarr*gan afoot to the police station. another problem presented itself. Tne doors of the cells were not wide enougn to admit him. Every effort was made to Harrigan into a cell, in vain. *' n .. guard, he spent the night in the po ic captain’s office. He consumed hug; quantities of food, and the authorities were greatly relieved w his case was called in the Munic P Court. Here another problem presented itself. If the court senten Harrigan to gaol, it would be i^P 055 M to put him into a cell; the station w have to feed him. For 30 days * . . keep of Harrigan was no small ns**The court tactfully evaded the situ tion by imposing a fine of ‘ pA Apparently one of the long-ae expense cheques must have arrl \ e '. € nt Mr. Harrigan paid his fine ana on his way to other scenes.