HUMAN DERELICT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 64, 9 December 1930, Page 13

HUMAN DERELICT

Methylated Spirits Addict

THREE OTHERS CHARGED

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, December 8. Four men described by Detective-Ser-geant Kelly as “methylated spirit kings” came before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court to-day. Three had been arrested on drunkenness charges and the fourth on a charge deeming him to be an incorrigible rogue and vagabond. Ravages of the methylated spirits they had been imbibing during the w T eek-end were reflected in their faces. One jnan was trembling to such an extent 'that a policeman ’had almost to carry him from the dock back to the prisoners’ room. Two were remanded for a week for medical treatment.

“These min go about the city in gangs, frequenting parks and drinking methylated spirits,” said Mr. Kelly. “Your Worship has only to look at them to see the harm the spirit does when taken internally.” Mr. Hunt: I know. There is a man in the morgue this morning who has been drinking methylated spirits. He was found dead yesterday. Concerning the man charged with being an incorrigible rogue and vagabond (James Edgar aged 59), Mr. Kelly said he was a derelict and a methylated spirits addict. “They won’t have him in the city shelters and he has been sleeping out in Campbell Park. Nothing cap be done with him," added Mr. Kelly. Steere, who bad 52 previous convictions and was said to be in a filthy condition, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. “He’s better up above, where he will be fed and kept clean,” remarked the magistrate.