HAD EVERY CHANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 924, 18 March 1930, Page 11

HAD EVERY CHANCE

RECOVERY FROM EFFECTS OF DRINK GAOL TERM LAST RESORT With a long list of previous' convictions for drunkenness, William Henry Nassan Carnahan has been given every chance by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. He has been twice committed to Roto Roa Island. A prohibition order has been issued against him and this morning the magistrate took the last resort of sending him to gaol for three months. Carnahan pleaded * guilty to being found drunk in Pollen Street on Saturday and breaking the terms of his prohibition order. He had three times been convicted of drunkenness within six months. Air. Northcroft said he had ■been instructed to appear by accused’s family. It took very little liquor to upset the man on account of his war injuries, and his mother, who was a frail elderly woman, had come to the conclusion that she could no longer have him about the place owing to his drinking habits. It was at the family’s instigation that Carnahan had been arrested. Counsel suggested that, if Carnahan was fined. he should be ordered to give sureties that he would not go near his mother’s home. The man had a pension of £27 a month and could afford to pay a fine. “His income makes it easy lor him to drink and it seemed a fit case for an application under the Destitute Persons Act that he contribute toward the support of his mother,” Mr. Northcroft added. “That application, of course, would have to be made in another court.” Sub-Inspector McCarthy mentioned that it was accused’s fifth breach of his prohibition order. “I’ve had this man on the island, but they can’t keep him there and it seems that the only thing to do is to put him away for a long time,” said the magistrate. “He has had every chance and lie will get no more. Time after time he has been here and now he can get the drink out of his system. The term of three months’ imprisonment was imposed.