A VAGABOND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16806, 12 August 1925, Page 11

A VAGABOND.

IMPOSES ON TARANAKI CLERGY

(Per Press Association.) TILTH AM, this day

Ministers in Taranaki of all denominations have been called on recently by a man who pleaded poverty. Ho said he was one of their tlock, and thus obtained hoard and lodging. His operations in Eltham were successful, three ministers taking pity on a shorn sheep in winter, but one accused the man of telling untruths and he made a hurried exit from the town. lie called on the Mayor of Stratford and told the same story, with tlie same good results. Yesterday Constable Townsend, of Eltham, arrested him in .Stratford, and be was charged at the Eltham Court to-day with being idle"and disorderly. It was stated that as the ministers' would not appear in Court, a charge of rogue and vagabond could not be made. The man’s name was James Joseph Donnelly, and a list, starting in 1906 for assault and trobbery, and covering false pretences, drunkenness, vagrancy, breaches of prohibition orders, and roguery was banded in. Accused said all the charges were due to drink. The prosecution said such acts marred the chances of men really impecunious who called on ministers for assistance. He was sentenced to three months’ gaol.