“A HOPELESS DRUNKARD ”

Evening Star, Issue 23323, 20 July 1939, Page 6

“A HOPELESS DRUNKARD ”

OFFENDER'S 96TH APPEARANCE SECOND THIS WEEK “ This foolish man seems to be a hopeless drunkard," said • Senior-Ser-geant Glaasen in The Police Court today, when Albert Joseph Bell (sb) made his second' appearance this week on a charge of drunkenness, his plea of (Tuiltv on this occasion relating to a charge that he was found drunk at Waikouaiti on the. Dunedm-Chnst-church main highway, having seven times previously been convicted m the last sis months. Bell also pleaded guilty to a breach of his prohibition order. The Senior Sergeant told the court that Bell had been before the court 95 times and convicted for drunkenness. Ho was dealt with by the court last Tuesday and placed aboard the train at 345 p.m. He was then perfectly sober and had a few shillings in his pocket. Ho arrived at Waikouaiti shortly after 6 p.m., but the next day about 1 p.m. Constable Hayward received a telephone call from a lady saying there was a drunken man on the premises. This turned out to be Bell, who was ejected bv the constable and then arrested. Mr Claasen told the court that Bell said he had a job to go to when he was last before the court, but it appeared that the man ho said he was going to had died about sis months ago. “I am afraid we must face up to keeping Bell under restraint," added the Senior Sergeant, “ he seems hopeless." . , “ I admit I am a very toohsh man.' said Bell. He stated that he met a man on the train and had some whisky, and next morning another man gave him some drink—he did not know whether it was whisky or methylated spirits. On the charge of drunkenness Bell was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, and he was convicted and discharged on the other charge.