POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22379, 1 July 1936, Page 3

POLICE COURT

' WEDNESDAY, JULY 1. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.); TWO YEARS’ PROBATION. Remarking that the circumstances of the case were rather unusual, the magistrate admitted to probation for two years Charles Matheson (41), a wharf labourer, who appeared for sentence on' a charge of obscene exposure in the Town Belt on June 26. ' , The Probation Officer (Mr J, Garbutt) said that Matheson appeared t» realise his position and was anxious that he be given a further chance. He was a married man with dependents. Mr Garbutt said that if the accused was extended probation he was prepared to accept the responsibility of his welfare. . • MrC. B. ' Barrowclough, who appeared for Matheson, stressed the accused’s explanation, that the act was not done with criminal intent. Counsel understood that there had been several complaints received from the locality of the Town Belt, and accused did not bear the description that had been given to the police by complainants, Matheson had two children to support, and Mr Barrowclough asked that he be given a chance. _ ■' The magistrate said it_ was difficult to deal with cases of this type. The medical report showed that the accused was sub-normal. The circumstances of this case were .somewhat unusual, and he would adopt the course of admitting Matheson to probation for two years. If Matheson came before the court again ■ he. would be dealt with in an entirely different manner. A term of his .probation would bp- that he kept away from the Town Belt.