SOLICITING ALMS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13929, 10 February 1914, Page 3

SOLICITING ALMS.

-• A FOREIGNE&JcEURGEp. ,' At the fyfagistrat^' Court? yesterday, before Mr jT S/ Evafcp, S;M. 1, a' foreigner giving the. name of John Meyer was charged with .'being an idle and disorderly person. -Accused was arrested by Constable Fitzsimnrions at Belgrove on Saturday, while soliciting alms. ' - Sergeant Barrett staged that the accused arrived in' \Neisori on the 4th February, and went to the Moutore, where there are a number of Germans, and asked for money'tohelp to get a ticket to return to Germany. He had a Joose-]eaf pocket book with him, and on the cover was the following printed

"Poor man who was working hard in the mine partly filled with water is John Meyer, who was not only injured in' a cave-in, but caught rheumatism in a wav so that he is paralysed on the left side of the body. Hek has been four months in St. Mary's Hospital, and is unable at present to earn a living. As he has. a wife and five children he asks all kind-hearted people to assist him in any way they can. Any favour will bo thankfully received. . John Meyer cannot speak the English language."

Continuing, the Sergeant stated that the man had "worked" from the Moutere to Belgrove. In two days he had collected over £12, in sums varying from 5s 6d downwards. The note-book contained the names of 93 /person© in the country districts visited. At first accused had said he had a wife and family in Auckland, but he now said they were, in Germany. Accused had also said he could not speak English, but it had been proved that this was not correct, for ho could talk and understand English very well. Accused's story was that he came to New Zealand twelve months ago, spent two months on the gum fields, and four months at Huntly mine, where he was injured by <a cave-in. A doctor had examined the man, and found that there was an injury to the wrist, which affected the arm, rendering him incapable of working. Accused was.closely questioned by Mr Brans in regard to the conditions at the Huntly^ mine, and the answers given were declared by him to be quite incorrect. (Mr Evans was chairman of the Royal Commission on Mines, and wais therefore well informed on the conditions at Huntly.)

In convicting and discharging the accused the Magistrate said he had better get moving along; His story was not very sound, and the best thing he could do was to get right away out of the country. . - Accused said he would leave New Zealand. , '

The money accused had collected in the district, which he carried in a stocking, was returned to him, less 16s medical epenses. He had detailed maps of various districts in the South Island, giving the road routes; and evidently. Sergeant Barrett remarked, he had been making good money judging from sums of money pencilled on, some of the maps.