THREE MONTHS’ GAOL

Grey River Argus, 5 July 1944, Page 4

THREE MONTHS’ GAOL

IDLE AND DISORDERLY CHARGE Pleading guilty to a charge that at Greymouth on July 4, 1944, he was deemed to be an idle and disorderly person in that he had no visible means of support, William Venice Aitken, aged 47 years, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in Paparua Prison, by Mr. J. M. Bunt, J.P.. at a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth yesterday morning. “He seems to be a hopeless wanderer,” stated Senior Sergeant G. H. L. Holt, describing defendant. “For years he has been wandering round the country dotog practically no work. He states himself that he is •physically capable of work, but had become depressed and could not work. He was before the Court on March 13 last on an exactly similar charge, being sentenced to one month’s imprisonment in Paparua Prison with a recommendation that he be medically examined with a view to having him placed in an old people’s home or some similar institution. The result of the examination was not known. For a long period nothing has been known against defendant as regards dishonesty. Last night he was found sleeping in a horse box at the railway station.