OLD MAN’S TROUBLES

Southland Times, Issue 20794, 7 June 1929, Page 9

OLD MAN’S TROUBLES

IDLE AND DISORDERLY CHARGE.

BRISK EXCHANGES IN COURT.

Before the Police Court sat yesterday morning sounds of heated objection from the court room gave the impression that a violent argument was in progress. When Messrs W. T. Gilbert and G. F. Watson, Justices of the Peace, had taken their seats on the Bench, the clerk commenced to read a charge to the effect that an accused man was deemed to be an idle and disorderly person in that he had no visible means ot support. As soon as the name was read out. an elderly man jumped up and said, “That’s me, and I want my liberty as soon as I can get it.”

Senior-Sergeant Fox asked the accused to advance to the front of the court, but he evidently misunderstood for he walked into the dock.

Senior-Sergeant Fox said that the accused had been before the court a week ago and had been committed to the Borstal to be cleaned up. He had been living in a hut of his own at Kew, and Mr- McLean, the city missionary’, had obtained enough money for him to live on, but he needed looking after as his hut was in a very unclean state. The accused: “That’s right; tell as many lies as you can. The clerk of the court: Silence. The accused: I won't be silent. I’ll speak honest. The Bench: Be quiet for a moment. The senior-sergeant: It will blow over in a minute. Continuing, the senior-sergeant said that the accused had been taken into custody to be cleaned up and also to receive medical attention ("That’s right” and mumbled reflections on the senior-sergeant’s veracity from the dock). Mr Gilbert: Wil! you be quiet. The accused: I won’t be quiet. The constable quietly advised the accused to be quiet as otherwise he would be liable for contempt of court. The accused: Contempt of court! What are you making a fuss about? You would think I’d committed murder. The senion-sergeant said they had hoped the accused would consent to go to the Old Man’s Home, but he had refused to do so. The health officer could forcibly commit him, but he would first have to be satisfied that he was not living under suitable conditions. The police would withdraw the charge and the accused could return to his hut. The health officer could then furnish a report.

The accused interrupted at this stage, and the senior-sergeant, crossed over to the dock and remonstrated with him. The senior-setgeant: You know well enough how to behave yourself; you have been here often enough before. The accused; I’ve never been here for doing any w’rons.

The Bench: We will agree to withdraw the charge.

The accused: I want to go to my own home.

The constable: Stand down. The accused: What have they done now? The senior-sergeant: Take him out on to the pavement and leave him there.