“DRUGGED BY FUMES”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 260, 3 August 1928, Page 15

“DRUGGED BY FUMES”

YOUNG MAN’S LAPSE

WANDERED INTO WRONG

HOUSE

That the subconscious mind will sometimes lead a person into an embarrassing situation was contended by Mr. AV. H. Uieester in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, when a young man was charged with being found by night .without lawful excuse in a house in the city. . Subrlnspector Lander stated that m response to a message, a constable went to the house, and found defendant in the front room in a drunken sleep. Defendant lived at a hostel about a hundred yards away, but In another street. He had gone to the house in question, pushed yp a window, and clambered in. Mr. Lander said that it was really a serious matter, for there was always the risk that such a happening might have a serious effect on those sleeping in the house. There was no dopbt that defendant went there purely through drunkenness. . Mr. Leicester claimed that hip client had no recollection of getting into the bouse. He was a young man who was not in the habit of drinking, and who was almost a teetotaller. He had been induced to go to a smoke concert, where he had liquor. As the evening wore on, continued counsel, the air became fetid with the fumes of alcohol and with smoke, defendant becoming, in a sense, drugged with alcohol and smoke fumes. He left the smoke concert at IL3O p.m., and must have wandered round in a drunken state until after 2 a.m. Defendant had previously lived in the street in which was situated the house into which he went, .and Mr. Leicester submitted It was quite probable that some unconscious thought had taken him to that street. _ .. After listening to the facts of the case, the Magistrate (Mr. E. Page, S.M.) said that he had come to the couelusion that there was no wrongful intent on the part of the young man, who was convicted and discharged. On Mr. Leicester asking that defendant’s name might be suppressed. Mr. Page said that, considering all the circumstances of the case, he would grant the application.