GIVEN A CHANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1938, Page 8

GIVEN A CHANCE

MAN WHO SAVED BABY FROM ALSATIAN. PROBATION ON CHARGE OF HOUSE-BREAKING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The hero of a sensational incident when he intervened to stop an Alsatian dog from attack a baby, George Thomas-Watts, appeared in the Supreme Court before Mr Justice Northcroft today, and was sentenced on a charge of nouse-breaking. He was admitted to probation for two years. Mr P. H. T. Alpers, for Watts, said that he had had a nard upbringing. He was sent to a Truant school when very young and then sent to farms in Taranaki, where he was outfitted with clothes and allowed 2s 6d a week above ins keep. The ■ incident with the Alsatian dog took place in June last, and as a result of it Watts received a fractured wrist, and had to give up his employment. He was placed on sustenance and he and his wife and child had to live on 39s a week. Later he entered the employment of the New Brighton Borough Council. The offence occurred when Watts vzas pressed for a payment on furniture. ’ He had kept up these payments until he was injured, and when he got a position with the Nev/ Brighton Borough Council the .furniture company demanded £1 a week. A judgment summons was issued and Watts saw his home being wrecked and became flurried, committing the offence. “I am going to give you the credit you deserve' for trying to go straight," said the’Judge, “and I shall treat this as an isolated offence, and admit you to probation. This is an unusual course, but you have earned it by your conduct over the last few years."