SHOW WINDOW BROKEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19805, 22 May 1934, Page 5

SHOW WINDOW BROKEN

CHARGE OF WILFUL DAMAGE

ACCUSED REMANDED FOR SENTENCE Charles Clifford Knopp (21). of no fixed abode, appeared before Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged that on May 19, he wilfully damaged a plate glass window, valued at £3O, the property of the C.F.C.A., Ltd. Accused pleaded guilty to the first charge, and not guilty to the second. He then withdrew the not guilty plea and admitted the charge of drunkenness. Sergeant Hodgson asked for a remand till Thursday to enable the police to make further inquiries concerning the accused. Constable King said that at 6.15 p.m. on Saturday he saw accused in Barnard Street. Knopp was drunk, and he arrested him on both charges. He smelt strongly of liquor, his speech was thick and his walk was unsteady. Knopp was not very exciteable. Accused: I countermand that plea. I was ill as much as drunk. The Magistrate: Was there any sign of illness? Constable King: No. He said nothing about illness at the time of his arrest or afterwards. The Magistrate said that further inquiries should be made. Sergeant Hodgson said that accused had told the police that he broke the window as a protest against the Government depriving him of his right to live. In reply to the Magistrate accused said that he came from Wellington. “Are your people there?” asked the Magistrate. Accused: Yes, your Honour. Sergeant Hodgson said he understood that accused’s father and mother were separated, and he had no home. He seemed to wander about from one part of the country to the other. Accused was remanded for sentence until Thursday morning, the Magistrate adding that in the meantime a few inquiries could be made. On the charge of drunkenness Knopp was fined 10/-, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment.