VAGRANCY CHARGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21471, 20 April 1933, Page 12

VAGRANCY CHARGES

TWO MEN IN COURT

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE The circumstances necessary before a person could be described as a "reputed thief" or an "idle and disorderly person with insufficient lawful visible means of support" were referred to by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday when two men, Edward Ernest Green, aged 31, seaman, and Jack Wilson, aged 36, labourer, appeared, each charged with being an idle and disorderly person, in that ho habitually consorted with reputed thieves, and persons having no lawful means of support. J\lr. Aekins entered pleas of'not guilty on behalf of both men, whose cases were heard separately. Both accused were arrested on Tuesday, after being spectators at the Police Court. Detective Moore said he had known Green for a number of years, and recently he had been consorting with convicted and reputed thieves. He was addicted to drink and was always in hotels. Evidence that accused consorted with reputed thieves was given, by Detectives Niilcler and Brady and Constable Mackrell. The Magistrate: A man must have the general reputation of being a thief before he can be considered a "reputed thief" under t'he Act. It is not sufficient that ho should be considered a thief by the police, or any one section of the public. Detective-Sergeant McHugh: 1 can call evidence to show that the people with whom accused consorted ljave tho general reputation of being thieves. Mr. Aekins said it was obvious tho police were making a " clean-up." Accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. "There are many people who are out of work who could not bo said to have no lawful means of support; they are merely unfortunate," tho magistrate said, after hearing the case against Wilson. He dismissed the information as there was not sufficient evidenco.