HABITUAL DRUNKARDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13685, 29 August 1908, Page 6

HABITUAL DRUNKARDS.

FIRST. CASE IN. TIMARU. . , The first habitual drunkard in Timaru, that is a person thrice convicted within a period of six months, made his appearance Ivrfore Mr. C. A. Wray, S.M., yesterday. He was De Renzi Harris Brett, a farmer residing.a few miles from Timaru. In addition to being charged with being an habitual, he was taxed with being drunk on Thursday and also with procuring li quor during the currency .of a prohibition order. Mr S. G. Raymond appealed for Brett at the latter's urgent request and made an appeal for • leniency. Counsel said "he had known defendant since 1879, when he was a teller in a bank. He now appeared thoroughly scared at the prospect of being put away for some time and counsel urged in his defence that when last discharged (on Wednesday) he had not recovered from drink. He had been in the Waitati Home.

His" Worship remarked that this place had proved a failure, also that defendantwas not suffering from drink when last discharged. Sub-Inspector Green said the charge of being an habitual wa6 brought under section 19 of the "Police Offences Act," which provided for imprisonment for any period nob exceeding three months. When before the Court last a medical certificate had been put in stating that defendant' was then quite fib to be discharged, though he was in a weak state. ■'-•'" His Worship suggested that it would be better to take the charge under the "Habitual Drunkards Act," instead of the "Police Offences Act," and defendant through his solicitor, said if he could choose he would much sooner go to an institution than to gaol. ■ His Worship said he was perfectly, convinced that- defendant) should be placed under restraint for a lengthy period; it would be in" interest, except perhaps in regard to his property, but property was not of much use to a man like bim. He did not know if the Auckland Inebriates' Home could take any patients at present, but if'not, -there was the Samaritan Home at Chrißtchurch and he suggested' that the police might make enquiries as to what accommodation there was at these homes.

Sub-Inspector Green remarked that defendant's own home was • sufficiently far from any hotel, hut the.trouble that lie would not remain at home. Defendant admitted his previous convictions and plaintively appealed -. for a last chance. He met with the reply that hg had had too. many last chances already; he did not seem t'o' possess any will of his own. He was thereupon remanded and hjs Worship said he would announce his eentence when replies were r?ceived from the institutions taking inebriates.

At the reqiK6t of Mr. Raymond defendant was granted permission to visit hie farm and make arrangements for carrying it on during his absence;