DESTITUTE

Southland Times, Issue 20619, 18 October 1928, Page 4

DESTITUTE

QUARRY OWNER’S PLIGHT. REMANDED IN CUSTODY. Frank Harris, an elderly man who was charged with being found wandering destitute on the streets a month agq and who had spent 30 days at the Borstal Institution, re-appeared yesterday afternoon at the Police Court before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M. Senior-Sergeant Fox said that Harris had been in the granite quarrying business, but had failed and was an undischarged bankrupt. The police had been in communication with his w’ife and family in Auckland and they had said that Harris had delusions and was very extravagant. They practically washed their hands of him. Harris said that he had received his discharge from Mr Justice Ostler and had paid 20/- in the pound to his creditors and 407in the pound to the shareholders. The Magistrate: We are not troubling about that. We want to sde you provided for in the future. Harris: I think you had better put me back in prison. I’m not mad; I’ve been 12 years fighting for honesty and I’ve got /he original documents to prove it. The Magistrate: Would, you go back to your wife and son? Harris: No, not on your life. I’ll go to gaol first. The Senior-Sergeant: You have been living on other people for months past. You have not paid your board. Harris: I’m not worrying about that; that was al! arranged before I came down here. The Magistrate: Would you go to Lome farm ? Harris: Do you think I’m out of my mind? I must be a queer sort of a fellow if I cannot earn my tucker. This is an insult. The Magistrate: We will give you a few days to think it over. Harris: I’ve had time. I’ve been thinking it over for 30 days. He was remanded in custody till October 26.