PECULIAR CASE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 92, 15 October 1914, Page 5

PECULIAR CASE

A peculiar case came before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. A well-dressed, middleaged man was charged with being helplessly drunk in Clyde-quay last Wednesday. "Before this man is asked to plead," said Mr. H. F. O'Leary, "I want to place the particulars of the case before the Court. He was arrested at 4 o'clock in the morning when he called on Sergeant M'Kelvie, at Clyde^quay. He said he was staying at an hotel in tho city, and that he could not sleep because the licensee was waiting outside the I door threatening him. He therefore climbed down the fire escape,, and made his way to the police. Enquiries show- ; ed that the licensee had not b^en out of bed, and it was obvious that the defendant was suffering from delusions of some sort. He had had no drink since 10 o'clock the previous night, and could not, have been helplessly drunk. However, he was charged with that offence — I know that the police could . have brought a much more serious charge — and lemanded to the gaol for medical treatment. My client had received every consideration from the police." .Counsel said that for particular reasons ho did not want a conviction, and it was quite plain that the man could not be convicted on tho charge brought ■against him. Perhaps he could be ordered to pay expenses (17s 6d) and be discharged. Inspector Hendrey stated that tnc lacts weie an outlined. The police, of course, alleged that the defendant, if I not actually drunk, was suffering from the effects of drink. His Worship agreed to adopt the course suggested to bun by Mi. pLmy,