MAN WITH 60 CONVICTIONS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28618, 21 June 1958, Page 15

MAN WITH 60 CONVICTIONS

Month’s Gaol Sentence

Released from Paparua Prison only a week ago, Reuben Charles Whitford Darling, was sent back there for another month by Messrs N. E. Clemens and W. S. McClymont, Justices of the Peace, when he pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth yesterday morning to a charge of being idle and disorderly with insufficient lawful means of support. Although he is only 44 years of age, this conviction , brought Darling’s total to 60. the majority being on vagrancy charges. Senior-Sergeant T. L. Doole said Darling was released from prison last week after serving five weeks for an offence at Hokitika. He had been provided with a rail ticket back to Hokitika, but had left the train at Greymouth. He had no money, no work, and nowhere to live. He had been sleeping out and attempting to borrow money from people in the town. Complaints had been received and Darling had been arrested the previous evening. In answer to the Bench, the Senior-sergeant said there was no apparent reason why accused should not work. He had worked on the West Coast before, but did not stay long in any job. Darling told the Justices that he was partly disabled in the 'right arm through a shrapnel He said he had worked in the bush, hut found it too difficult, and he had been unable to obtain any light work.

President Delayed.—President Carlos P. Garcia, of the Philippines, conferred for more than two hours yesterday with the Secretary of State. Mr Dulles, and the meeting caused Mr Garcia to be more than 30 minutes late in Attending a diplomatic reception. jK June 20. ■