IDLE AND DISORDERLY PERSONS

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 119, 16 November 1909, Page 7

IDLE AND DISORDERLY PERSONS

CASES IN COURT. "THE CITY REQUIRES SWEETENING." "There are too many of these mea about ; and the city requires sweetening," remarked Sub-Inspector Norwood in reference to a feeble-looking old man, named Matthew Pickering, charged in the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., with being a rogue and a vagabond. There were also before the court two young men — James Alexander Driscoll and George Arthur Westray — deemed to be idle and disorderly persons. Now that the weather is becoming milder, there is a growing inclination amongst the loafing class to "doss out." , AN OLD MENDIQANT. The first-mentioned accused — Pickering—was, according to the sub-inspector, a well-known thief. He had done no work, except in gaol, for years. It was his custom to do a daily round of begging. He invariably timed his visits to private homes when "the man of the house" was away at work. The •mendicant would knock at the back door, and 4vas so persistent for alms that tho female occupant became frightened. To be rid of the intruders, gifts were made of money or old clothes. With tho latter, he would proceed to a secondhand shop, where sufficient would be received to buy drink. Accused had numerous previous convictions against him — some of which were of a most serious nature. On eleven occasions, he had been bnmght under the provisions of the Vagrancy Act, and had served amongst others terms five separate terms of twelve months for this offence. He had also been convicted of theft, and had failed to maintain his family. Accused was sentenced to twe'lvo months' imprisonment. ANOTHER OFFENDER. Concerning James Alexander Driscoll, appearing on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, having insufficient lawful means- of support, Sub-Inspector Norwood stated that accused was another professional loafer, who lived on something the same lines as the former accused. He was an able-bodied young man, but he absolutely refused to work. His occupation apparently was to loiter round the streets. Accused : Give mo a chance, your Worship. I will leave the city by 12 o'clock. Tho Magistrate : You have had innumerable opportunities to clear out, but you have not taken them. You will be sentenced to three months' imprisonment. A CHARITABLE INSTITUTION. A mere youth— George Arthur Westray — was also charged with being an idle and disorderly person. He had but a few days ago been brought before the magistrate on a charge of having been found at night on a building in course of erection. Accused was a recent arrival from Sydney, and he had explained that he had been unable to find work. Since then, complaint hud been made by the caretaker of Newtown Park, mentioned Sub-Inspector Norwood, that he had been sleeping out at night under the shelter of the trees. Accused had admitted that he had made a bed in the park. The sub-inspector said that he had communicated with the Salvation Army authorities, and they had expressed themselves willing to interest themselves on the young fellow's behalf. They would be willing, if the magistrate was agreeable, to take the youth into their institution and attempt to find him work. Mr. Riddell agreed that under the circumstances that was tho best that could be done. Accused would then have the opportunity of earning an honest livelihood. Accordingly, Westray was merely convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.