VAGRANTS IN DOMAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19891, 9 March 1928, Page 11

VAGRANTS IN DOMAIN.

AN EARLY MORNING SEARCH. FIVE MEN CHARGED IN COURT. Several constables were detailed to search tho Auckland Domain for sleeping vagrants in the early hours of yesterday morning, with the result that five offenders later appeared in the Police-- Court 011 charges of being idle aud disorderly. Joseph Best, aged 4/, pleaded that lie was proceeding home when stopped by a constable. Asked for his address he replied that lie had forgotten. ) Sub-Inspector McCarthy said accused s mentality seemed hardly normal. He was harmless, but was in a very dirty condition. Accused: 1 was going home, but 1 had it "meet." Mr. W. 11. McKean, S.M.: lam surprised at you. Accused was remanded for a week, a constable explaining to him as ho left the dock that a bath awaited him at the gaol. George Wallace, aged 18, and William Henry McCord, aged 20, were jointly charged. They stated they had recently arrived from, the country, where there was "little doing.". The Magistrate: There seems to be less doing here. The sub-inspector said McCord had a previous conviction for being idle and disorderly. Wallace had been recently discharged from the Borstal Institute. A sentence of two months' imprisonment was imposed on McCord, and Wallace was remanded for a conduct report. William James McManus, aged 50, pleaded not guilty. A constable said he found accused asleep. McManus said lie was out of work and should have been in hospital 011 account of an injury to his shoulder.

Accused denied this and said he arrived from Waiwera on Wednesday and lost his money 011 a drinking bout, lie offered to return to work immediately.

The magistrate said he would give accused an opportunity to leave the city. He would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. John George Hobson, aged 58, said he had not worked for two months. He pleaded that be welcomed work when it was procurable. The Magistrate: Judging from your list of convictions you have not been anxious to find work during the last seven vears.

Sentence of two months' imprisonment was imposed.