SEVEN YEARS AGO.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 August 1928, Page 4

SEVEN YEARS AGO.

PROBATION ORDER, BROKEN.

ACCUSED AIAN BEFORE THE COURIT.

On three charges of false pretences, Bernard Patrick Alalone was, in September, 1921, placed on probation for two years, prohibited and ordered to pay £24 and costs 30s. He observed the terms of probation for eight months and then disappeared from Kapomga, hits whereabouts in the meantime being unknown to the police until his arrest at Atarton on Alonday. On a charge of breaking his proba-' tion order, Alailone appeared before Mr R,. W. Tate, S.AI., at the Eltham Court yesterday, and pleaded guilty. Sergeant Henry said Alalone had lost some of the fingers of his left hand previous to his conviction, and then had lost his left band a few weeks after being placed on probation. He was upset and affected by this misfortune, which was no doubt part of the reason of bis disappearance after reporting regularly to the police. He was a single man and since his departure from Ka~ ponga had worked in different parte of the Dominion under various assumed names, evidently to evade arrest. Of the £24 he had been ordered to pay, there was still £3 9s owing. The accused said the loss of his hand swayed him in bis determination to clear out. •

The magistrate said there was no valid reason for accused’s action, by which he was qualifying for a term of imprisonment. He had, however, decided to treat accused much better than he deserved and admit him to probation for a term of six months, during which he must observe the terms of his original probation, otherwise he would be sent to gaol; he'must also pav the £3 9s still owing on the first order.