MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 257, 27 September 1935, Page 13

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

CASE REMANDED. Appearing before Messrs W. G. Bosworth and W. Lowe Black, J. P’s., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Henry Sellars Robertson, labourer. 20 years of age, was charged that, on August 7, at Wellington, he did break and enter the dwelling of Kenneth Fanthorpe and steal a gold ring valued at 10s, the property of Mr Fanthorpe; and, secondly, that on August 23, at New Plymouth, he did break and enter the dwelling of Laurence Henry Goss and steal a gold ring valued at £2. and the sum of 30s in money, the property of Mr Goss. On the anpliention of Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike. accused was remanded to appear at New Plymouth on Wednesday, Mr Bickerdike stating that there were a number of charges to he heard. SENTENCE IMPOSED.

■John Robert Southwood was charged that, on September 24, at Eketaliuna, he had been deemed to be an idle and disorderly person within the meaning of the Police Offences Act in that he had insufficient visible means of support. Mr Bickerdike stated that on September 22 accused had called at a house in the Eketahuna district and asked for food. His conduct had been such that the lady of the house had supplied the food, but had reported the visit to the police. Two days later accused had been interviewed by the Eketahuna police. On that occasion accused had become abusive, but on his own admission the man had admitted that lie had not done any work for two or three years. “Unfortunately,” continued the officer, “accused is mentally weak, hut not sufficiently so to merit his being admitted to a mental asylum. It is a pity that there is not some society which would take an interest in this typo of man. If he could only find regular employment ho would probably be quite capable of carrying it out.” The Bench: It is certainly a pity that there is no halfway house. Possibly it would be better for accused to he remanded till Monday to permit of his undergoing a medical examination. His appearance is certainly against his securing employment. Perhaps the Salvation Army would tako an interest in him. t Mr Bickerdike: Wnat he really needs is a general clean-up and a regular routine. Perhaps prison would be best for him, for he is just wandering around ihe countryside. The Bench: There appears to he nothing else for it but to give him a month’s imprisonment with hard labour.