'Hermit’ imprisoned

Press, 12 July 1979, Page 5

'Hermit’ imprisoned

I PA Invercargill I The “Hermit of Tapanui’’ was sentenced to a month's imprisonment when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Invercargill charged with presenting a firearm at Tapanui on June 29. James Skene Fraser, aged 51. was also convicted of being drunk in charge of a firearm. Counsel for Fraser (Mr K. J. Rogers) said his client did not recall any of the events of the evening in question. According to the prose- . cution, Fraser had pointed

a shotgun at a traffic officer who had stopped to help him when his car became bogged in a ditch. The officer retreated when he saw the gun, and Fraser had followed him down the road for about 60m before throwing down the weapon. Mr Rogers said Fraser may have attempted to “go bush,” as he had done in 1973 and 1975, He had gained notoriety as the “Hermit of Tapanui,” he said. Fraser had spent a considerable part of his life using firearms, said Mr

Rogers. His respect for guns was instinctive. He noted that the weapon was not loaded when the police recovered it. In sentencing Fraser, Mr ) E. B. Anderson, S.M., said he had “quite a severe drinking problem.” He said he could not hope to change his ways. Fraser w'as also sentenced to 12 months probation. He w'as ordered to live and work where directed, and to take treatment and counselling. The gun was also ordered to be forfeited.