“USED TO HIGH LIFE”

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1921, Page 5

“USED TO HIGH LIFE”

AN ENGLISHMAN IN TROUBLE. GOOD LIVING ON LITTLE MONEY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Remarkable sidelights were thrown in the Supreme Cou-t this morning upon the career of a young Englishman named Percival Rhys Wingrove (Mr. Inder), who was charged with having made a false declaration before the registrar when he was married to a girl whose iigi- he. gave as 22 when he knew it to be only 18. Mr. Inder explained that accused met the girl and her parents on a trip from England to New Zealand and the young couple became engaged, but the latter’s father, owing to Wingrove’s drinking habits, disapproved. The couple subsequently got married in Auckland. Accused had run wild, but for which fact the parents would not have withdrawn their consent. He had had an exceptonally good military career and had been an officer in the Imperial Forces. Already he had spent about six weeks in gaol and as a fine was usually im- . posed in such cases counsel suggested that Wingrove might be released when the Court rose.

Detective Gourlay, in a statement read by the probation officer, stated that owing to prisoner’s drunken habits at Home his father, who was a director in a wealthy English manufacturing firm, had sent him to the Dominion in an endeavor to make good. He had spent all his money (£2O) on the voyage out and within a month of his arrival had obtained from various persons in Wellington and. Auckland sums totalling £6O, which he spent. In addition he had incurred debts at a hotel and at a private hospital. A cable had been sent to his father, who had refused to pay his debts. Some years ago prisoner had visited New Zealand, when he had succeeded in obtaining money in a similar manner. He was undoubtedly a waster. Mr. Inder said he. had not previously heard the detective’s report. The prisonei had been used to high life in England and had gone to the most expensive. hotels in Auckland, although he was only receiving a pension of £2 per week, plus £1 per week from his father. Drink was his weakness. Mr. Meredith said prisoner had been a profligate since he had been in Auckland. Ho had been borrowing and cadging and living the high life. His Honor said prisoner’s record was such that the case could not be treated as a venial offence. It was known that prisoner’s father had found it impossible to control him. There were no extenuating circumstances in the case and it would be an injury to Wingrove to treat the matter as his own counsel had suggested. He would be detained for reformatory treatment for a period not exceeding three years.