GARDENER’S FOLLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 850, 19 December 1929, Page 18

GARDENER’S FOLLY

FORCED CELLAR DOOR IN SEARCH FOR WINE EARLY MORNING PROWLER It is not every gardener -who finds a barrel of wine in the basement of a house where he is doing two days’ work. Tom Kerslake appreciated his good fortune to the full. He drank as much of the wine as he could during the day, but made the mistake of returning for more in the small hours of the morning. Kerslalte, a labourer, aged 49, appeared before the Polite Court this morning on a charge of breaking and entering a dwelling at US Mana.wa Road. The charge was reduced by Chief-Detective Hammond to the theft of a bottle of wine, valued at 2s 6d, the property of Millicent Agnes Clifford, on December 13. Mr. Smyth entered a plea of guilty. According to the chief-detective, Kerslake had worked for two days at complainant’s house. While in the basement looking for tools, he had found a barrel of home-made wine. He drank as much as he could and returned at 2 a.m. for more. He broke into the cellar and made such a noise that he roused complainant, who called the police. “Drink is his trouble,’’ added the chief-detective. “He has been before the Court previously, but only for drunkenness.” “If he takes out a prohibition order, I shall let him go,” said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. “He is already prohibited,” said Mr. Smyth. “He had a steady job for many years, but was discharged after breaking a prohibition order that his employer made him take out.” Counsel asked that Kerslake be given a chance, that he had been in gaol for a week. Accused was convicted and discharged.