MAN FOUND IN HOUSE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1940, Page 3

MAN FOUND IN HOUSE

COULD GIVE NO EXCUSE Because he was found without lawful excuse in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Kay, Devon Street, New Plymouth, at 11.40 p.m. on September 10, Alexander Swain was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment when he appeared before Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., yesterday morning. The charge was that he was a rogue and vagabonck. An attempt would be- made to find vvork for him when he ci>me out of jail, said the magistrate. Kay had found Swain in the act of moving a bicycle from the back verandah. He seemed in a muddled condition and could give no coherent account of wha-t he was doing or who he was or where he lived, so Kay took him to the nearest telephone box and communi- J cated with the police, to whom he was handed over. ' In evidence Kay said that when he went out to the verandah he saw a man j there with his hands on the bicycle, j which had been moved. He could not give his name or his address. He simply j said, "12, Fitzroy." He smelled of liquor of some sort so witness decided to have him arrested. Swain said he had no intention of moving the bicycle. He went

to try to gct a drink of water. In answer to the magistrate the witness said there was no water tap near where the bicycle was. The only outside tap was on the other side of the house. Constable V. Woodward answered the call and met Kay and Swain at a telephone box. Swain could give no explanation of his movements. Later he was i found to have in his possession a bottle | of methylated spirits which was about : three parts full. Swain said he was released from jail that morning and had tried to find work, but unfortunately he had got some liquor. He admitted to the magistrate a list of previous convictions.