R.M.COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4278, 18 November 1892, Page 3

R.M.COURT.

MASTERTON.-FBIDAY. . (Before Colonel Kobertß, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS AND VAQRANOT. Thomas Long, a recent inmate of the Masterton Hospital, was charged with being drunk and disorderly. A second oharge of vagrancy was also brought against him. Sergeant MoArdla proved tho first offence, the accused being fined s"s or in default twenty-four hours imprisonment. 4pn the second charge Sergeant ff&rdle said that the accused had applied to him,for means to leave Masterton. He had arranged withthe Benevolent Society to provide Long with tea, bed and breakfast, and his fare to Eketahuna, A little time after the) train had left the accused returned, and told bim something about a swag, Since then he found the accused sitting in an hotel with a glass of beer before him. The accused had no means of support, _*- John Williams, custodian of the Masterton Hospital,knev? the accused, who had been an inmate of the Hospital until about a week ago, He was to have been discharged* by the doctor's. order, on Monday, but . requested to be allowed to go to town with another patient, and permission was given. Long borrowed £3, and did not again put in an appearance at the Hospital. When admitted to the Hospital, be had one shilling, Had never heard him say he had any means or any money coming to him, /The accused, asked if he had anytl!% to say, said he was not ashamed of anything he had dono through life. He stood there" as a soldier and a man." The Bench said that harUothing to do with the charge of vtpnby. • Long went on to say that he could not help being without means as he was crippled. Ho had been called a • Kb— hangman " at the boarding ; house to which be was sent, The Sergeant bad mado out that he was a 11 notorious' out-and-out bad character," simply because he was crippled, Sergeant McArdle said tho accused waß a yery wild man, and gave a good deal of trouble. , ■,'. ...;: '. The Bench said he had been treated in a very fair- manner, and provided "•'' with -the means to loavo Masterton,

but bad rotui'Dcd to ; tho top and given a lot of trouble. 'A Bentenoa of seven days' imprisonment would be inflicted, ,