VAGRANTS IN COURT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1939, Page 7

VAGRANTS IN COURT

THREE MEN SENT TO GAOL. DESCRIBED AS “DANGEROUS & IRRESPONSIBLE." Described by Senior-Sergeant G. A. Doggett as methylated spirits addicts, and a danger to the community, three men —Alfred Croft, alias Albert Croft, labourer aged 63 years: Michael William Stack, alias Michael Slack, labourer 48 years, and Percy William Old. alias William Percy Olds, labourer 48 years—were charged in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning with being idle and disorderly persons in that they had insufficient lawful means of support. Messrs A. D. Low and H. E. Pither, J.’sP., were on the Bench. The accused all pleaded guilty and were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in the Wellington Gaol. Senior Sergeant Doggett said the men were arrested at Te Ore Ore last night. They had been fighting among themselves. For several days they had been hanging around Masterton making nuisances of themselves. They were irresponsible and dangerous and had been chased out of the Masterton parks by the caretakers. “They all have a long string of previous convictions,” the Senior-Ser-geant added. “Croft has been in and out of gaol since 1914, Old since 1924 and Stack since 1919. When arrested they had about 4s between them. Croft has been kicking up a fuss everywhere and has abused and threatened the placement officer.”