CLEANING UP CITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 696, 22 June 1929, Page 1

CLEANING UP CITY

THREE MORE VAGRANTS GAOLED POLICE ACTIVITY As a result of the activities of three constables in the western streets of the city, many familiar faces are being missed from Hobson Street, Victoria Street, Vincent Street and Goods Lane. Three more vagrants appeared in the Police Court this morning. Agnes Kennedy, aged 44, was the first one charged and Mr. Bryce Hart appeared for her, entering a plea of not guilty’. Constable Needham said that he had had accused under observation for some weeks and that she was hanging about Hobson Street outside hotel doors and accosting men. She did no work. Mr. Hart explained that Kennedy had been arrested yesterday after doing some shopping. The woman was having a drink after doing her shopping. She had had to leave half a bottle of beer when she was taken away. Fred Howard, called by Mr. Hart, said that he was keeping Kennedy. She had been behaving herself lately though it was true that she had been a bad woman. Witness said that he had only one conviction. Mr. Hart: And that was for bookmaking—a decoration rather than a conviction. The magistrate mentioned that the woman had been up several times on vagrancy charges since 1925 and sentenced her to three months’ imprisonment. LOOKING FOR HUSBAND Constance Martha King, aged 33. also pleaded not guilty. Constable Haines gave evidence similar to that of Constable Needham in the first case. He added that King was in the habit of calling out to strange men in the street and they resented it. “I want to know where my husband is,” explained King. "A lot of the boys I speak to are navy boys and my husband was a navy man, so there is a chance that they might know where he is.”

King was also sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. For the 21st time, George Stokes, alias Max, alias Mack, aged 54. stepped into the Police Court dock when he also was charged this morning with vagrancy. Constables Bowman, Needham and Haines, the trio that has been concentrating on the Hobson Street district lately, gave evidence against Stokes as did Detective O’Sullivan and Acting Detective Kelly. Accused was said to live by' cadging and robbing “half-drunks.” Witnesses said that his associates were of the worst type and that he was living with a convicted thief. “This man ought to be charged with being a rogue and a vagabond,” com mented the magistrate. “Then w*could put him off the streets for 12 months.” Stokes was sentenced to months' imprisonment.