An Unpleasant Case.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8145, 20 November 1905, Page 5

An Unpleasant Case.

More Vagrants

- Two well-known characters named Charles Warren and George Fincham, popularly known as ." Crayfish Charlie " and " Greasy George" respectively, were charged at the Police Court this morning, before Messrs C. E. Waldegrave and G. Woodroofe, J's.P., with being idle and disorderly persons, having no lawful visible means of support. Each entered a plea of not guilty.

Sergeant Stagpoole, who conducted the prosecution, stated that it would be impossible to get a dirtier or more filthy house than the one these men lived in. He had known Fincham for the last three years and had always found liis house in the same state of awful dirt and filth. In fact lie. could not sajr anything strong enough to describe the condition of the place. Warren was not quite so bad. He had, however, been living in the same disgraceful state for three or tour weeks past. He had also often been seen carrying drink to the occupants of the house, who, according to the Sergeant, were of very shady character. The condition of the house was described by Constable Minogucin detail. He said that the only bed in the place was an old stretcher provided with a few rotten bags as bedding. According to the witness he " would want to clean the nlace out well before he would put a pig in it."

Evidence was also given by two of the neighbours to tbe effect that the house was a sort of refuge for disreputable characters who would not be received anywhere else. They testified as to a light with a woman which occurred in the. place on Saturday night.

The Sergeant stated that in his opinion it would be quite a charity to put the men away for a while. In reply to the Bench, Fincham said lie did not know what he was brought there for at all He had-always paid his way, and had worked whenever he could earn an honest sixpence. Warren said he "did not owe nobody any money." He had plenty to keep him. going.

After consultation, the Bench 'sentenced Fincham to two months' and Warren to one month's imprisonment with hatd labour.