DRINKING TO DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 4, 23 May 1914, Page 4

DRINKING TO DEATH.

MAGKJERATI CROOKB'S DIFFICULT PROBL&M. ■What woe described as "a hopeless case" 'vmtt toougJit before Mr A. ,8-M., In the Magistrate's Court, New Wymoutn, yesterday, when H«nry iynai Oallaghaa, who quite recently was discharged fiom the inebriates' home at Pakatoa, appeared on remand to answer | a charge »f .having been helplessly drunk on May 13th. He pleaded putty, and at once asked that a jwohibitioa order should be issued against him, saying that he had .intended doing so himself betore this had happened, Mr R. C. Hughes appeared on behalf of defendant's, wife and family, and re- ■ .marked itfcal instead of the man Manning from tbe home and -settling down to a steady sober life, lie was as bad aa ever. One day since his return he ha* fcwironied money to go to Stratford with the intention of looking for work, but he bad net done so. It wa» common •knowledge that the defendant wa» an habitual drunkard. As his wife had *akl it was either a ease of committing him again to a reformative institution w a lunatic asyJum. Counsel did not favor the latter ewurse, but suggested that tbe former should .again be adopted. The magistrate remarked that it did not appear to have any lasting effect on him and, another tilling, by doing' so, another man who might be benefited might be debarred admission to the in- - stitution. Continuing, Mr Crooke tajd the man wa« a disgrace to humanity^. 1 Tt wae a 'hopelcps caw. The. last oecaWon*:" on whift defendant was before the court " Dr McCOel&nd .qaid the man was drinking himself to death, and' on one oooa- . eion the doctor wife only just able to save him from dying. It seemed to Mm that H he recommitted the man to the island it would do no good. Asked H he could suggest any course to take, Defective-Sergeant Bpddam said he did Bat fed inclined to. He tad previously done so so many times. Tn« ■ man had received more kindness tad ' leniency fmotri the bench and all concerned than anyone eVe had. Perhaps fliis Worship might convict him oiyd£e charge of drunkenness and orderhjtto . come up Jor sentence when call&MKn. This course the magistrate decHLea to adopt, after again severely taking to. the defendant on the foolishness of Ml ways. GaUagh&n was ordered to pay £l, ■ the cost of medieaH exrtonses. and a pro- ~ ■ hibition order was, .issued against him. ' He was allowed a fortnight in which to ■ find the money.