"ONLY A JOKE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 143, 18 June 1940, Page 11

"ONLY A JOKE."

VAGRANT ON SHIP. SAID HE HAD WON £20,000. "KNEW DE VALERA WELL" A garrulous, untidy looking man of 45, who had long hair, spoke with a pronounced Irish brogue and claimcd to be a naturalised American, Thomas Cunniff, made his appearance before Mr. F. H- Levien, S.M., in the Police Court today on charges of being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient meajis of support, and one who boarded an overseas ship berthed at the Central Wharf without a permit.

Murdo McLeod, quartermaster 011 an overseas ship, said he found Cunniff on board at 1 o'clock last Friday afternoon, and asked him his business there. Cunniff replied that he had just won £20,000 in an Irish sweepstake, and wanted to return home. Cunniff refused to go ashore. When Constable Gilmour ordered him to leave the ship, accused made an attempt to strike him. Cunniff then backed away along the deck and pulled out a. large pocket knife from his pocket threatening witness and the constaible. Cunniff had to he carried ashore by the constable. Constable Gilmour gave similar evidence. Making it Serious. ''I only went on board the ship vj look for work," Cunniff told the magistrate. "The whole thing was only a joke. Xow they are making it serious. 1 wouldn't use a knife 011 anyone—l'm not a maniac." Senior Sergeant Sparks said he knew Cunniff well. He arrived from Australia by the Awatea about 18 months ago. Several complaints had been received by thc police about him since he had been in Auckland. "He says he cannot get work and also eays lie wants to get back to America," added the senior sergeant. "He has developed a persecution complex. He is in a very dirty condition and only had sevenpence on him when arrested. Cunniff: I came from Ireland, where I knew De Valera very well. I worked for some years in America before I went to Australia. There's no harm in me. The magistrate remarked that Cunniff was in need of a clean-up and sentenced him to seven days' imprisonment on the first charge. On the second he was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months.