"NO PLACE LIKE GAOL!"

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 52, 1 March 1916, Page 2

"NO PLACE LIKE GAOL!"

MAN DEMANDS TO BE LOCKED UP AGAIN.

“I want to be locked up,” was the strange request made to the New Plymouth police by a strong, well-built man who confessed that he was much too weary to earn a laving for himself in these days of strife. “Yes, ” he went on to say, “I’ve been in gaol so much during-the past five years that I’m really much happier there, and, besides, we always get good food and comfortable beds and have little work to do. Also, a man has no cares while he is in 'jug,’ and there are plenty of ‘blokes’ to look after him. What more could you wish for?” The police listened to his story for some time, and then forcibly advised him to go and find work. The vagrant, however, insisted on being arrested, as he had no food or place to sleep. He was escorted from the police station, but created som 0 trouble and had to be arrested later on.

In the Police Court the prison-lover-, whose name was given as John Marshall, 47 years of age, was charged with being an incorrigible rogue. Sergeant Bowden read a lengthy list of previous convictions. Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., remarked that surely gaol was not meant for a man of the accused’s description but there was little else to be done with him. He would be sentenced to three months’ hard labour, Marshall: What only three months’ hard, bow? The Magistrate remarked afterwards that he would inquire if there was any means of giving the man extra hard labour.