MAN FROM TANGARAKAU SENT TO GAOL

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 84, 14 August 1929, Page 3

MAN FROM TANGARAKAU SENT TO GAOL

UNDESIRABLE TYPE POLICE CONTEND TWO MONTHS' HARD LABOUR IMPOSED. "LANGUAGE" ON YAHORA STATION. That he was a, pest in the township and had {lone no work for a month, was the allegation made by the police yesterday afternoon when Thomas Fredric Perry, alias Thomas James, who had been arrested at Tangarakau, was charged with being; an idlb 4nd disorderly person, in that lie had no lawful means of support, and with having used obscene . language. Sergeant Power prosecuted.

Evidence of arrest was given by Constable Boyd,, of Tangarakau, who bad nothing favourable to say aboutaccused. The latter he stated had been living at Tangarafeau, but had done no work for a considerable time- He was a reported sly grog seller. The constable spoke of a dance held on Friday night, which be' said Perry : "graded by his presence. .During that night and the early morning following Constabk Boyd received calls to certain houses where trouble was being encountered .as a result of sundry individuals having some time earlier partaken of liquid refreshments. One woman whose husband had given trouble told the constable that she strongly suspected Perry to have been the source of supply, but this could not be proved. * ( At one house to which I was called," Mr. Boyd went on, "accused was outside and was alleged to have used abusive i language to ai woman. % , Accused in evidence said he was not fit to go back to work on account of an accident. He remained at Tangaraikau in the hope of getting, work hi:a tunnel. "I am. not a isly grog seller," 1 lie said. "It was the other way about. I paid for what I drank, .and drank .too inuch."

A JG//IVIE AT THE.SHOW. Sergeant. Power put Perry through a searching cross-examination in which questions were asked regarding a game at the show. "Didn't I prohibit you from operating this game which was merely one on chance," asked the Sergeant.

■ Accused replied ; that he ftad not Operated the .game. The Sergeant.—No, because I told you I would bring you before the Court if you did, and your table with you.

Several questions relating to twoheaded pennies were asked, but Perry den.ied being implicated in anytbhtg of the'sort. He further denied the Sergeant's suggestion that when he left a certain camp his two-head-ed pennies were left behind. He' .did not'have any two-headed penpies, ho said. He admitted that his name was' Perry, but he went under the naime of James at Tangarakau. He was a professional boxer. He also admitted having, been' before the Court,previously for assault and damage to property. It was a long while ago since he had run a two-up school. "Everybody gambles out there", he 1 pointed out. Sergeant Power. —The others gamble and work. You gamble and don't work. You know the Public "Works Department won't have you back?—That is because of the last trouble.

Sergeant * Power went on to say the obscene language took place on the Tahora, station. Accused had us- ; ed filthy language to a woman. Ac-' cusedi he stated, was a man *whb 'lived on his,wits and wajs a most undesirable' type to have about Tangarakau. Perry was convicted on the first charge and given a months' hard labour, and. on the second he was sentenced ! to two months' hard labour, the sentences to be concurrent.