THREE MONTHS IN GAOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 12

THREE MONTHS IN GAOL

LABOURER'S OFFENCES INCIDENT IN A SHOP Charges of assaulting Thomas Bernard Mooney, of drunkenness in Broadway, Newmarket, and using obscene language were preferred against Joseph McCarthy, labourer, aged 45, in the Police Court yesterday before Messrs. J. B. l'aterson and A. J. Stratford, J.P.'s. With the exception of the assault charge, McCarthy pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Fox said it was the fourth occasion this month that McCarthy had been before the Court for drunkenness. Ho appeared to have started his career in New Zealand as a ship deserter in 1937, and since then had been prosecuted on numerous occasions. On Saturday evening lie entered a Newmarket shop and tried to beg money, from the woman behind the counter. Mooney suggested to McCarthy that there was no excuse for an able-bodied man to be begging. Accused then left the shop. Mooney subsequently saw the woman from the shop standing on the footpath, looking agitated because accused had returned. A constable appeared and took McCarthy into the shop. While the constable was inquiring into the circumstances McCarthy used obscene language and lucked at Mooney, whose hands wore cut in trying to defend himself. Accused was 6ontenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour for using obscene language, and convicted and discharged on the two other counts. '