INTRUDER IN HOTEL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 956, 26 April 1930, Page 1

INTRUDER IN HOTEL

THREE MONTHS FOR VAGRANCY NOTICED BY HOUSEMAID Her attention attracted by footsteps, on the first floor of the British Hotel on Thursday evening, a housemaid watched James Arthur Reid come downstairs and walk outside. When be> returned he was detained and arrested. He was sentenced by Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Police Court today to three months' imprisonment for being idle and disorderly, and a month for being illegally on premises. Described as a clerk, 45, Reid admitted being found without lawful excuse in the hotel, but denied being idle and disorderly. Evidence of having heard footsteps upstairs and subsequently seeing Reid walk outside was given by Nancy Williams, a housemaid. When he returned she accosted him and he asserted he wanted to see the licensee and sat down to wait for a friend. Accused: I got up as far as the bathroom, washed my hands and came downstairs. The licensee, Bertram Langley, said that Reid told him he was waiting for a friend whose name he did not know. Reid had no money on him and his possessions comprised a bottle of beer and a pound of butter, when arrested by Detective-Sergeant Martin. Detective-Sergeant Kelly described accused as a well-known hotel habitue who had been convicted several times. Four months ago he had been convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months for being idle and disorderly. "If these men are to be allowed to ramble round the upstairs portions of hotels, where guests live, their property will not be safe,” added the detective.