A DRUG FIEND

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11293, 19 August 1922, Page 5

A DRUG FIEND

YOUNC MAN BEFORE BENCH “ENOUGH DOPE TO PUT WHOLE COURT TO SLEEP.” COMMITTED TO ROTO-ROA. A young man named George Edward Barker, nineteen years of age, appeared at the Magistrate's Court, yesterday, on a charge of drunkennees. Sub-Inspector McNamara explained that the accused, although only about nineteen years or age, was a drunkard and a helpless drug fiend. He -was in the habit of drinking to excess and taking an abnoj?mal amount per day of a certain injurious drug. The quantity which ho took on each occasion, continued the sub-inspector, was almost enough to put the whole court to Bleep. On one occasion he had drifted into such a state of stupor that he had fallen into the harbour. In the interests of the young man, the SubInspector therefore asked that he be committed to Roto-roa. Constable Cleverly, who on one occasion had been obliged to “fish” the accused out of the harbour, stated that at the time of the occurrence the young man had been in an advanced state of stupor. He had, "however, admitted being in the habit of taking a bottle per day of tlie drug in question. * Constable Baker deposed to having interviewed the accused while the latter .was in the hospital. The young man had then stated that he was accustomed to drinking about fourteen shillings’ worth of tht§ tftrug per week. He had acquired the habit from an older man with whom he had at one time worked. He was a sea cook by occupation. Medical evidence had indicated that accused was suffering from the effects of drugs. In accordance with the suggestion of the sub-inspector, Barker was committed to Roto-roa for a period of twelve months.