INTRUDER IN OFFICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 154, 11 April 1930, Page 2

INTRUDER IN OFFICE

MAN BEFORE THE COURT. AFTER LATE NIGHT AT PARTY. (Special to the “Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, April 10. “I don’t know how to plead. I simply walked in and walked out again,” stated Reginald Overton Cookson, who was charged with being without lawful excuse in the enclosed building of the New Zealand Insurance Company last Thursday. The Magistrate (Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.) accepted the plea as one of not guilty.

Senior-Sergeant O’Grady said that at 3.45 p.m. on April 3 the defendant was found by a charwoman on. the premises. The defendant was then under the influence of liquor. Jane Rebecca Sykes, charwoman, said that she found defendant in the front part,of the office. She asked him what he was doing there, and when he still remained, witness was terrified and went for the police. A constable who was on duty in Cathedral Square at the time said that he heard a woman shouting out for help. Witness saw two men hold-',, ing defendant in front of the insurance company’s building. Defendant said that he went inside the building for a blanket. He. was under the influence of liquor, and appeared to have been drinking for some time past. “I had been working for a long time and made a bit of a cheque,” stated defendant in evidence. “I came down here to see how things were. I have many friends here, and everybody knows me. I had been drinking for a fortnight and had a late party that night in Linwood. I was feeling ‘dingbatty’ and I walked around for a while to shake off the ‘spots.’ I saw a light in the building and went in, thinking that I might meet someone I knew. As soon as the woman left I went outside and walked to the United Service Hotel corner, where I met the constable.” The Senior-Sergeant said that he understood that defendant had held a good position at one time, but could not stop when he tasted drink. The Probation Officer (Mr W. H. Darby): This man is well known here, , as he says, and drink has been his downfall. The Magistrate (to defendant): Will you go to the island? “Very well, sir,” replied defendant. Defendant was remanded' till to-mor-row morning, and in the meantime an attempt will be made to get in touch with his relatives.