UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12544, 11 April 1904, Page 7

UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERS

\ ffHE CITY INFESTED WITH THEM. TWO MORE SENT TO GAOL. ' THE police have during the past week been I taking vigorous action to clear Auckland of undesirable characters. In the early part of last week three men wore before the Court on charges of vagrancy, and these were sentenced to terms varying from one to three months' imprisonment. At the Police Court on Saturday morning Mr. Kettle's attention was again occupied In hearing similar charges preferred against two other young men named Donald Wilson and Albert Smith, who both pleaded not guilty. The evidence < called by Chief-Detective Grace in Wilson's case was given by Detectives Maddern, Kennedy and Hollis. Detective Maddern said Wilson had sowed several sentences for theft and vagrancy. His chief business was to run round hotels after drunken men with those of his class who made it "absolutely dangerous for a man to get a drop of drink in him now," end to frequent racecourses as what was generally known as a " guesser." He did not do any other kind of work. The other detectives corroborated Detective Maddern's statement.

Wilson, in self-defence, said he had been Tillable to get work since lie came out of gaol some months ago, and he implored His Worship to deal with him leniently and give him a chance, as, he said, if he were sentenced it would break his mother's heart.

His Worship severely reprimanded Wilson for this appeal, saying: that ii lie weru a man at all he would never bring his mother's name into Court. The charge had been clearly proved, and it seemed that the accused was one of the sort who were always loafing about. There was plenty of work to do about and around the city, ■ and he intended to put such offences down with a very strong hand. Accused would be sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour, and if lie wanted work at the expiration of that time then lie could go and get it. The ca?o against Smith was next dealt with, Chief-Detective Grace calling Detectives MoMahon, Maddern and Kennedy to give evidence. Their statements were to the effect that the prisoner had been convicted for theft at Eltham. and when ho came to Auckland ho commenced to associate with convicted thieves immediately upon his arrival. "They all get together," said Detective Maddern. "about the street corners, where they loiter from day to day. They never do any work, ami they don't starve, so they must live on someone." Detective Kennedy added that the accused had lately drifted in with men of Wilson's class and convicted thieves. There were numerous complaints about them robbing drunken men. but the police were unable to do anything owing to the unfortunates being unable to give proper descriptions of the men who robbed them and of the amounts taken. "The town is infested with this class of men xt present," concluded the detective. Mr. Kettle dealt with Smith as with Wilton, sentencing him to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.