VAGRANCY CHARGES LAID

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1931, Page 8

VAGRANCY CHARGES LAID

YOUTHS SLEEP IN CONCRETE PIPE. MAGISTRATE DEALS LENIENTLY. Charges of being idle and disorderly and of the theft of files valued at 5s 4d, the property of some person or persons unknown, were made against three Wa-t nganui youths, Alexander John KirkAtood (aged 20), Frederick Stevenson (aged 18) and Norman McLean (aged 18), before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., at the New Plymouth Police Court yesterday. ’ Though he was fully entitled to couvict McLean and Stevenson on the vagrancy charges, the magistrate said, he would dismiss both charges against each in view of the circumstances. Kirkwood was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called upon. AH three pleaded not guilty to being idle and disorderly. Kirkwood pleaded guilty to the theft of files and the others not guilty. > : ' Mr. R. H. Quilliam explained he was appearing for McLean at the request of his father but had been asked to appear for them by the other two youths. The circumstances would show that a technical offence had been committed huj he asked the magistrate to hear the case and exercise his power ,of not recording convictions against young men in such circumstances.

Detective Meiklejolin related that he and Constable Mitchell had found two suitcases, an attache ease and other gear in the large concrete pipes lying in Wooleombe - Terrace. They had visited the beach below and found a billy, potatoes and the remains of lettuce ana onions. They had later accosted the three defendants in Devon Street' and all had admitted they had no means and had "been sleeping in the pipes for the previous six nights, with the exception of the night before their arrest, when they shifted into the washhouse of a nearby house that had been gutted by fire some time previously. Witness had collected their effects from the pipes and a bundle of blankets and overcoats, which the defendants said were theirs, from the washhouse.

In a statement made to the police Kirkwood said they had come from Wanganui’ by train. They had shifted into the washhouse because it was a wet night and had stolen the lettuce and onions from a garden because they were short of food. He had taken the 'files from a car when he was looking for something to eat. Constable Mitchell corroborated the evidence of the detective and read a statement by Stevenson, while Sergeant McGregor read a statement by McLean. To Mr. Tate’s question whether there were any organisations the defendants could have consulted Detective Meiklejohn replied, there was the Salvation Army, the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, or they could have reported to the police. .. The lads had no money or work, said Mr. Quilliam. It was not a case of three criminals or men who were bad characters and were a menace to the community. Though they had stolen they had hitherto borne excellent characters and their families were excellent people. They realised* their adventure had taken on a more serious tone than they had ever imagined. McLean’s father had come to New Plymouth as soon as he heard. He had been away from Wanganui when, with no work to be obtained there, the I 'youths had de cided to come to New Plymouth. McLean had drawn money from his post office account and the intentions of all three were to get work. Sleeping out they considered only an adventure. They had put their names down at an employment agency and had called there two or three times. When their money ran out, instead of appealing for assistance, which hurt their pride, they had yielded to temptation and stolen. The theft by Kirkwood was a stupid act that was difficult to explain. Stevenson and Kirkwood both had homes to go to and McLean's father would pay all their fares back to Wanganui. Mr. Tate: “It is a very good thing for you that the police got on to this as early as they did, for if it had gone ou much longer you would have been in greater difficulty and rendered yourselves liable to greater penalties.” He advised young men who left one place to go to another to look for work to report to some authority or they might easily be in difficulty. He desired to deal with the matter as leniently as possible but only on the understanding that the defendants had had their lesson and -would return home and keep in touch with their parent#.