STRANGE BEHAVIOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23463, 30 March 1938, Page 7

STRANGE BEHAVIOUR

SEQUEL TO FRIEND’S “SEND-OFF” MAGISTRATE DISMISSES CHARGE Found wandering in a backyard of a property in Opoho in the early hours of yesterday morning, a young man of 20 years of age, whose name was suppressed, appeared in the City Police Court before Mr J. E. Bartholomew, S.M., yesterday morning charged with being found in an enclosed yard without lawful excuse but in circumstances that did not disclose the commission of or an intent to commit any other offence. — Senior Sergeant Classon prosecuted and Mr J. C. Mowat appeared for the accused, who pleaded guilty. “ This is an extraordinary case of a young man being found on premises without any excuse for being there,” said Senior Sergeant Classon. Sergeant Johnson answered a call to Opoho, and there found the young man detained by local residents. He was not intoxicated, but smelt or liquor, and certainly appeared as if he had been drinking. The accused could give no explanation of his presence-there. He was clad in shirt, trousers, and socks. According to residents of the district, he had been tapping on windows, and they described him as a “Peeping Tom.” There was no evidence, however, to bear this out, and it appeared that the accused was acting under the influence of liquor. A search was made by daylight of surrounding properties, and accused’s missing clothes were found. Yesterday morning the accused was still unable to give any explanation of his conduct. Mr Mowat said that it was a very unfortunate lapse on the part of his client. He had been at a “ send-off ” to a friend who was to be married soon, and had been led into taking liquor. After the “ send-off ” he and another young man took a taxi to the Gardens, in which district they lived. The accused thought he would take a short walk to clear his head before going home. He could not remember, anything between the time of leaving the taxi and of arguing with residents on the footpath, Mr Mowat stated that it was possible that his client would lose his position if his name were published, and he accordingly asked that the name be suppressed, “ The accused has not yet reached maturity,” said Mr Bartholomew, who added that he would regard the matter as a drunken act of folly. The charge would be dismissed on payment of witness’s expenses (8s), and he made an order suppressing the accused’s name.