CALLED SOCIAL PARASITE

NZ Truth, Issue 1246, 17 October 1929, Page 4

CALLED SOCIAL PARASITE

Bench Castigated Adventurer Who Took Woman Down v

ORDERED OUT OF DOMINION

(From "N.Z. Truth's" -Special Dunediiibßepreseiitative)

When Herbert Edmond- Davidson^ a garage proprietor, of Dunedin, retired one night, he left £9/10/- m, his, trousers pocket ; but next morning only half -a-crown remained. William Arthur Scott fell under suspicion and thus found himself m the dock of the Dunedin City Police Court on a charge of theft.

THB facts as unfolded m the court byDavidson were that on the night m question he had retired to bed about eight o'clock, leaving the money m a side pocket of his trousers; Later he was invited by Scott, a fellow to join a party m his (Scott's) room, which he did after having doniied a dressing gown. At midnight the party broke up. Davidson offered to drive some memibers home and together with Scott and a young lady he did so. On "the way home they decided to (purchase some pies, but neither having {any money they returned to their jlodgings and Scott went m to ge|;,some. Next morning Davidson missed the money from his pocket and , after telling the landlady and the other boarders, complained to the police. Detectiye Kearton, m evidence, stated that he had interviewed the accused, who had offered no objection to his room and effects being searched. The detective', -m the course of his search, had found, m the match pocket of an evening suit, a five-pound note which accused could hot account for. The only ' explanation that he could make was that a friend m Wellington, who had had a loan of the coat, must have left it there. There was an absence of any well-defined crease m th<j note. Detective Russell gave corroborative evidence and produced a. statement by the accused and also a letter from Scott to his friend m Wellington. ,The Wellington friend had, m a statement made at the Wellington detective office, denied that he could have left the note m the pocket. " ■• Mr. J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.,.remarked that although the circumstances were suspicious, nothing had been proved and the accused was entitled to be discharged on this charge. Scott was also charged with the theft of different sums of money totalling £41, the property of Margaret O'Connor, at Auckland. - Scott pleaded guilty and was represented by Mr. Calvert m this 'as m the other charge. T Chief- detective Cameron, m out-

lining the facts, stated that m June and July of last year the accused had been associated m running a dancing school m Auckland with two sisters. He was given various sums totalling £41 to bank for them, but had not done so. He had later made restitution of £11, and- had given Miss O'Connor an IOU for the remainder. , Mr. Calvert said that the younger sister had advanced Scott the money pending 'receipt of money from England. Scott claimed that much of it had been spent on business m connection with the dancing school. The accused had had a rather "unfortunate spin," said counsel, since his arrival from England two years ago and intended to return as soon as this trouble was- finished with. He was m a position to make restitution of the whole amount within a week. The magistrate ordered Scott to be remanded m custody for three days m order that the probation officer might submit a report. When Scott appeared on remand the magistrate remarked that according to the probation officer's report he was a social parasite and' ' something of an adventurer m tak<ing down women. All things considered the man was an undesirable type and it would be better m the public interest if he returned to England whence he came. ; "\ On condition that he would make restitution of the money and return to England within three months. Scott was convicted and ordered, to come up for sentence if called* on within that, period. y