A RAID ON VAGRANTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4990, 1 April 1895, Page 3

A RAID ON VAGRANTS.

FIVE MEN ARRESTED AT MASTERTON.

I Five men giving thoir uames Charles [ Dalton, Edward O'Connor, John Noble, Morris Osmund, alias O'Connor, and Henry Tompkinson, were charged with being idle and disorderly persons, at the Masterton S.M. Court this morning, before Messrs C. Hughes aud T. E. Price, JJ/i. All the accused pleaded "not guilty." Sergeant McArdle said the accused were all ablo-bodied young men, who had been watched carefully by the police, and seem to be loafing about and "shepherding" drunks. In a number of instances the uccused had been warned out of the hotels by the various pro. prietors. Four of the accused had bocu previously convicted.

Constable Stewart gave evidence that he had sceu four of the accused about at a late hour of the night, Had seen the men hanging about the street for several days, Hud a number of residents had drawn his attention to the fact that the men were begging meals, etc., and tkeirconductwns calculated to excite fear in tho public mind. Had warned tho meu on Saturday night to cloar out. Understood accused were sleeping in tho Park. Tompkiuson, one of the accused, had twice been convicted at Mastertou, on one occasion getting three months for running away from the lock-up. Tompkinsou denied the charge and cro«s-queitioncd Constable Stewart, ftoblc protested that he had asked for no money from anyone. He always paid his way. Dalton said he hadgotmonoy and paid for all he had.

Maggie Cole, wife of H. Cole, fishmonger, gave evidence that ono of accused came and asked her for some fish, saying ho had no money, Gave him a fish to get rid of him,

John Tucker licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel, gave evidence that Morris Osmund and Edward O'Connor came to his house on Saturday morning, and ordered no refreshment but merely loafed about the house until ordered to to go out. Later witness found the men on the premises again, Edward O'Connor, on being told to go out told witness "if he was notd civil he would thump him." Tompkiuson paid for some refreshment lie ordered.

ConstabloLawlcr gave corroborative evidence.

ltaymond Maltby, restau:ant keeper, stated that Dalton aud Tompkinson came to bis place on Wednesday and laid they had only a shUlisg, and would he give both a meal for it. Witness gave both men a meal for nothing, Sergeant McArdle said, to slum the imposition tlio men were practising, he would like the L'ench to take notice that Dalton had tiro half-sovereigns on him when arrested.

Frank Uzoska, living at the Masterton Catholic Presbytery, gave evidence that Edward O'Conner was in Father Meienna's yard, and asked for something to eat, which witness obtained for him. v Three of the accused were stopping in an outhouse belonging to Father MeKenna, hut he could only identify O'Connor.

Sergeant McArdlo, on oath, stated that he had been watching the accused for some days. On Thursday, Tonipkinson accosted witness at the Sports ground, roundly abusing witness for locking him up previously. Warned the man to leaye the town. Maurice O'Connor had been cautioned and told to leave the town, and Dalton also. Noble had interfered and both he and O'Connor had been most impertinent, Tompkinson, who had a thorough knowledge of the town, appeared to be the leader of the gang. Accused taking no notice of witness' warning were arrested on Saturday night, because witness feared a burglary. Edward O'Connor, while his mates were being arrested, ran off with the swags, which the police had—un to the present—been unable to find, lurcc of the accused were jockeys or horse trainers. Noble denied that he knew the other mon. He nad only knocked off work five days ago. Tompkinson said since ho" catno out" he had been working for Mr Cummins at Mauriceyillo Osmund also protested that he had been working at Lovin. Sergeant McArdle informed the Bench, that O'Connor had been sentenced to 14 days at Napier, ti months at Gisborne, anof more recently to 12 months at Napier, for burglary, Ed-j ward O'Connor recently was sentenced; atDanerirke, to one month's imprisonment ; Tompkinson had been convicted at Masterton, of larceny and prison breaking. He had no knowledge of anything against the other two, but believed them to bo" birds of a feather," Edward O'Connor said ho was horsebreaking at Jlarton, and after coming down to Eketahuua with his brother, ho worked for Mr Britton a gravelling contract. Had been told to clear out of Ekctahuna, Was a horse-trainer by profession. He had got food from several people in town, Osman alius M. O'Connor, made a statement that he had been at Alfrcdton looking forwork grass-seeding, Denied that he had made tho statement attributed to him by Mrs Cole, He asked that they be given a chance and they would clear out.

J. O'Mcara said he knew that Tompkinson was engaged to work for Mr M. Kerrius.

Noble said ho was working till lately on the coast, aud had means of going away to get work. After thoaccused had been cautioned—

Tompkinson saidthat upto Wednesday he was working on a contract at Upper Taueru, He came to Masterton on that day and cashed his cheque and had met tho other accused. He was going to work for-M, Kerrins near tho railway, As long as his money lasted ho paid for meals for three of the others, Had only seen one of them before in his life, and last saw him in the Point Halswcll Prison gang. Dalton stated that he had come here to look forwork. He expected to get work from a firm of coach proprietors as groom.

Their Worships decided to sentence Thos. Dalton, E. O'Connor.and Osmund to three months hard labour; Hcniy Tompkinson was discharged, he must, however, at once go to the work stated, failing which he must leaye the town or j his arrest would be ordered; Noble was sentenced to fourteen days' hard labour.