LIVED AS HERMIT

Evening Star, Issue 22709, 24 July 1937, Page 28

LIVED AS HERMIT

MODERN RIP VAN WINKLE DID KOI KNOW OF DOLE Wrapped in a heavy overcoat, cleanshaven, and with Ids -hair newly cut, •Joseph Brown, aged 99 years, who spent seven months in the bush, living on rabbits and potatoes, appeared in the Daylesford Court (Victoria) last week on a charge of vagrancy. He was discharged on condition that he left the town within 24 hours. Mounted-constable Wilson said that on July 9, with Senicr-consta-hhi CVCon-’ nell, he wont to Porcupine Ridge, about 10 miles from Daylesford. Near a camp fire were an old rug, a bill v can, and potato peelings. “ After a search we waited near the camp for nearly two and a-half hours,” he said. *' When Brown returned he said that he had been setting a rabbit trap. Ido also said that he had been living in the bush for about seven months because he could not get work.” Mr Bruce She’lard (for Brown): The only thing wrong with this man is that ho has no money ? Constable 'Wilson: Yes. Senior-eonstablo O’Connell said that Brown told him that he had not done any work since the last harvest, that he knew’ nothing of the sustenance system, and had no friends. Idis clothes were torn and tattered and he was m a nervous condition.

Senior - constable O’Connell (to Brown): Do you admit that under the name of James Nolan you were convicted at Hay (N.S.W.) of riotous behaviour and fined 10s; at Donald on' December 27, 1933, of offensive behaviour and fined £2; and at Euston on January 17, 1934, of stealing, and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour? Brown; Yes. < Senior-constable O’Connell said that ho had received 5s from an anonymous person at Yarraville to help Brown. ; Before he left the town Brown was given a blanket and; a pillow, a billy can, a cup, a knife and fork, and a quantity of food, which was collected for him from tradespeople.