“GENUINE MISTAKE”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17228, 7 April 1930, Page 8

“GENUINE MISTAKE”

TRESPASS ADMITTED WIDOW’S UNPLEASANT FIND A widow who ret urned to her homo nt SI.Mil o'olook on Saturday evening had nn unpleasant experience when slidiscovered a drunken 111:111 sleeping on her bed. The police were sent for, and Edward Kennedy, 27, was arrested. 1 This morning Kennedy pleaded guilty before Messrs. 1). W. Coleman and .T. B. Broad hurst. J’s.l’., to idiarges of trespassing on the premises of .the lady, and of lining drunk. Senior-Sergeant Wade explained that at tI.MO p.m. the lady returned home, and noticed a bicycle standing against the fence, and the front window open. She was living alone, and she immediately rang for the police. Constable Strawbridge went to the house, and found the accused asleep on the bed, with his clothes and boots on. He was inclined to be bombastic, and at first ordered the constable out of .the house. He smelt strongly of liquor, and had every appearance of being intoxicated. He did not know the lady, and had no right, to be in the house.

“There is one tiling to be said in his favor, however,” continued the senior-sergeant. “Up until a few weeks ago lie was living in the house vvitli his wife. When six' went out she used to lock the door, and leave this window open so that he could get in.” Mr. S. V. Beauldy, who appeared for the accused, explained that Kennedy had been out in the country on Saturday and became very drunk. Until four or live weeks ago lie and his wile and mother had lived in the house lor about H months. He did not remember returning to town or going to the house, and perhaps that was the solution of the whole tiling. There was not the slightest doubt; that he was not there to commit any crime, but simply got. in through the window ns lie had done dozens of times before. It was to be regretted that the woman had been frightened, and the accused was very sorry for his action.

In asking for the suppression of the accused’s iifime, counsel explained that lie had a good job, and if his name was published there was a chance that lie would find himself on the unemployed list. II was not as though he had committed a serious crime in the house.

“ We arc satisfied that the accused made a genuine mistake when tie went to the house," said the bench, “on account of his muddled condition, and we are prepared to take n lenient view of the case." On the first charge Kennedy was convicted and discharged, and for being drunk he was fined Ids and costs. The bench refused to suppress his name, commenting that publication would be his punishment for the first, oil once.

After a discussion, which at limes was of a somewhat heated nature, til members of the Napier Soldiers’ Olub, who attended a special meeting held on the. club premises, carried a motion unanimously deciding to wind up the club, in accordance with the rules. Regulations for the use of cyanide gas for fumigation of buildings were CJazetted recently. They provide for the notification of the Medical Ollirer of Health and the Fire Brigade as well as the posting on the fumigated buildings of a notice bearing the words, “Danger, poison gas.’’ In addition, when the building is dear of the fumes the Medical Ollioor of Health and the Fire Brigade must he again notified. The gathering of Kaili freezing works staff employees and their guests at the annual smoke concert held on Friday evening was unusually large The chair was taken by Mr. .1. H Smaill, and during the evening lie complimented those present on the evidences of good feeling between one department and another, as well as in the personal relations of the employees with each other. The proceedings were enlivened by a good programme of items arranged by a commitlee of which Mr. (t. Lynox was chairman and Mr. I’. Holschier lion, .secretary. and there was not- a minute of the whole evening that did not produce something of interest for those present m the way of an entertaining item or an iulcosting speech. Several toasts were honored, and the opportunity was taken to congratulate the delegation from the Taruheru works staff upon the success of I heir cricket team in senior and junior competitions between the two works, and also on the victory recorded by tin* Tarulieni relay team, in the annual inter-staff race. The Tamheni! works staff, it was pointed out. now had all the trophies available for romnetition between the two works, including the Bray cup for cricket, the cock and hen which represent premiership in the senior and junior crudes of cricket, and the Smaill and Kyne cup for Hie relay race. The smoke concert owed much of its success to the efforts of the entertainers. who comprised j Messrs. C\ Hampton. W. Hart f\ Price, I K. Sharpies, R. Markin, .1. Lucas, H. 1 Gardner. CVicncy, *T. f.vall, I’erston, and VV. MrCallnni.