"CRIMINAL AND PARASITE."

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 5 March 1926, Page 9

"CRIMINAL AND PARASITE."

TERM OBJECTED TO. A MAN'S ASSOCIATES. TWO MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. The old saying, that a man is judged by the company he keeps, was instanced at the Police Court this morning when Alexander Wallace Copley (25) appeared, charged with being an idle and disorderly person who habitually consorted with reputed thieves. Accusod, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. J. J. Sullivan. As soon as he went into the witness box Detective Moon drew his notebook from his pocket and gave the names of various reputed thieves and the dates on which he had seen Copley in their company. Copley admitted to witness that he was a friend of Thomas Smith, the man who escaped from the Rotorua express in Newmarket tunnel last week. Accused had also been associating with Phillips, who was at present wanted for absconding from bail while awaiting trial for the theft of benzine at Taupo. As far as witness knew accused had no legitimate occupation, but he had an interest in a diminutive horse and followed the shows about the country. The types of persons with whom Copley had associated were described by witness as professional thieves. Mr. Sullivan: You arrested this man yesterday morning in the passage way of this court?— Yes. While he was waiting to see mc ?— Yes. Detective O'Sullivan also gave evielence, stating that he had been with the previous witness when he saw Copley with various thieves and reputed thieves. Copley had stated that he had visited Smith at the gaol and that he was paying for his defence. Witness drew accused's attention to the fact that he had been associating with Phillips, Moyne and Smith, besides others. Accused replied that he would not let his friends down. Copley usually stayed at good hotels where be had an opportunity of Mr. Sullivan: Now that's not fair. This is a court of justice. I know what the detective is trying to tell the court. Mr. Poynton: It is all right, he is not being charged with associating with hotelkeepers, or stealing from hotels. "A Business To Go To." That he had known Copley for some years was stated by Senior Detective Hammond. Witness personally warned accused about his associates, also that if he persisted in being in their company he would not get a license to have a etand on any showground. Mr. Sullivan submitted that Copley had a business to go to, and would have been on the Cambridge showgrounds yesterday had he not been arrested. He had been warned only on last Monday night. It was unfortunate, because he occasionally spoke to men who had been dn gaol, and had expiated their offences there. Counsel described the cases quoted by the detectives as isolated ones. It was not one of the glaring cases where the man had been hangiug about the town all the time, and counsel appealed for a chance for his client. Mr. Poynton held that a prima facie case harl been established, whereupon Chief Detective Cummings presented accused's list. This contained- three previous convictions for theft, besides other matters. "This man is a well known criminal and a parasite," concluded the chief. Mr. Sullivan : The word parasite should not be used in this court —in this case anyway. A parasite is a man without a soul. Chief Detective Cummings: Some have no soulsi Mr. Sullivan: Well, the word should not be used. It is contrary to religious beliefs. Mr. Poynton: Well, we do not want a theological discussion now. Mr. Sullivan then stated that although list looked bad, it was not so. Two of the theft convictions were on the same day, and they were nothing serious. He had been fined for trespassing on a racecourse, and he had also been drunk. Observing that he had been given a term of reformative detention, the magistrate sentenced Copley to two months' imprisoiu\icnt.