AN UNUSUAL CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9834, 27 June 1914, Page 5

AN UNUSUAL CASE.

CHARGE AGAINST CHARITABLE AID SUBJECT.

Some rather unusual facts were disclosed at the Magistrate's Court this morning in the case of Thomas Mills, who was charged with being found drunk yesterday. A previous conviction was recorded against accused in April last. Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., was on the Bench.

When charged with the offence Mills remarked: "It is no nee me going against it. I must plead gniltv, its no use."

Sergeant Willis: This man, your Worship, is in receipt of charitable aid and had £5 7s 9d when arrested.

Mr Aisher, Charitable Aid Officer., who was in Court, stated to Mr Poynton that accused had been receiving charitable aid for the past two years. Mills gave a lot of trouble and was a very dissatisfied man.

Mr Poynton: He gets from the State and then he drinks it! Proceeding, Mr Aisher said that during the week Mills had made trouble over his meat allowance, and he had to weigh it, only to discover the quantity was in excess of the allowance. '"Accused," he 6aid, "is in his 73rd year, he is blind in one eye and the other is affected; he has been a very hard drinker. A few years ago he desired to bring out an endowed sister from England to act as his housekeeper and paid the agent for a shipping firm £5 or £6 towards the £l6 required, getting a friend to back him for the alance. Certain matters arose and his sister was not brought out. lam going to make enquiries, as I think the sum in his possession is the money he paid towards the passage. I would ask your Worship, if you have the power, to order the money to be handed over to me."

Mr Poynton: I can't do that. Accused was then fined £3 with the option of 7 days' imprisonment.