HE TRIED TO BARTER SUN GLASSES FOR MEAL, WAS GIVEN 3 MONTHS

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 290, 29 August 1957, Page 1

HE TRIED TO BARTER SUN GLASSES FOR MEAL, WAS GIVEN 3 MONTHS

Patrick I0I111 Hassett, 29, described as a workman, tried to exehange a pair of suuglasses for a meal, but the police caught up with him, and justices in Taupo Police Court last Monday sentenced him to three moiiths for being idle and disorderly. )n the bench were Messrs A. H. Ueid and R. Anderson-Bak, J.P.'s. Sergeant X. ('. Waters appeared for tlie police. Hassett pleaded guilty to Ihe charge, and admitted two previous convictions on similar eharges. Mr Waters said that Hassett had only reoently heen discharged from prison. Last Sunday morning, at about 11 o'clock, he went into a local shoj) and told the woman hehind the counter that he did not have any money, but would like to barter a pair of suuglasses for something to eat. She refused him, and he left Ihe shop. Ilis rough appearance roused her suspicions, and she telephoned tlie police. Sergeant Waters said he found Hassett in the marine reserve, and questioned him. He found that Hassett had not worked for three weeks, and liad heen "going round the-country trying to find work, but liadn't heen snccessful." Hassett, according to his own stoi'3T, had been "living 011 hand-outs, and sleeping in liaystacks." Mr Reid, when sentencing Hassett, told him there was plenty of work round Taupo, if he cared to look for it.