Alienist Says Apotu Farmer Ill-Intentioned

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1942, Page 2

Alienist Says Apotu Farmer 111-Intentioned

When John Arthur Fielding Yates, farmer, of Apotu, came before the Magistrate (Mr Raymond Ferner) for •■entence on a charge of assaulting Hedley James Hirst and a further charge of making a false statement to the police, the contents of an alienist's ■eport on Yates’ mentality was disclosed to the court. When the case was first heard on February 23. the Magistrate remanded Yates in custody for 14 days, during which time an examination ol' his mental state was to be carried out by an alienist at Auckland, Senior Sergeant A. Henderson told the court.

"The report makes it fully clear that Zates knew what he was doing when ho committed the offences," he said. “This man has 16 previous convictions for various offences and the alienist says that he suffered from no lelusicns or hallucinations —he was ;.n 'il-::ctentioned man, fully aware of what he was doing.” said the magistrate. Five Months Gaol "The longest term he can be put away for is five months, and I propose to imprison him for that period. On the charge of assault he will be sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard iabour, and on the charge of •applying false information to the police, he will be sentenced to three months' imprisonment, the sentences to be cumulative."

Mr D. Ross, appearing for a daughter of Hirst, the man who was assaulted oy Yates, stated that an application for sureties had been made, but in view of the court’s findings, he would ask that the application be adjourned sine die, to be brought on within seven days. Representing Yates, Mr E. Harrison objected to this, but the Magistrate considered that the girl should have the protection of the court if necessary, and the application was adjourned as requested.