THE CRIME OF DESTITUTION.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4624, 30 October 1883, Page 3

THE CRIME OF DESTITUTION.

(To the Editor of the TCveuing Star.) .Sib, —Pome few weeks ago an old man, 84 yenrs of ape, who is still in Mount "Eden Gaol, "was cbarged'with this crime. The constable deposed tbal the man bad no place of abode, that- he had been sleeping in empty houses, and that he had found him lying on the Hide of the road in an exhausted state. The man said that he was not destitute, that he had a bit of bread and sixpence. Some more evidence was Riven, and then the constable said to the prisoner, " Now, do not say you were drunk, for you were not drunk ; you were destitute," -thus showing that in the eye of fhe law destitution was a greater crime than drunkenness. The Magistrate, who doubtless interpreted tthe law correctly, sentenced the prisoner to six months imprisonment. Ab in the case of l&o deceased Waterloo Veteran, the ' R.M., before passing sentence, enquired whether he could not be put in the Old Men's Refuge. If there is no accom* snodation in tie Old Man's Refuge, it is the, duty of the authorities to provide •'other tPR:"f->.'Bry homes for the sick and -itwr-.. '?"..; mosey wasted by keepiDg ' ti3?f..'. m k-'; r-l '.Toniditeep them in luxury out o> :;.?). To send an infirm person to pad, iif'x &">vr- make a felon of him for t Jh&.- criii!^ -.:-> destitution, is offering a *' atrofig inducement to destitute persons to ■ steal so as to save themselves from a felon's -fat,-,,... Both of these old men, it is alleged, had.been in the Refuge, bbt had left of their own accord, and some persons . think that that is an excuse for the authorities, but it is not so; an j>ld man is often childish and ill-tempered, and allowance ought to be made for such persons, and there should be some place of refuge for them. It is said that drink was the cause of the early death »nd sad - fate of John Walker, the Waterloo veteran, at the comparatively early age of 92. I think it much more probable that the' poor man died for wunt of some wholesome stimulating drink. If he bad • had a quart of home brewed ale daily. made from malt and hops, while in gaol,' he would probably be alive now. —I am, &c. f Gsokge Vipai..