PERSISTENT BEGGAR.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 14791, 24 April 1914, Page 4

PERSISTENT BEGGAR.

A VEIlt'Y "CIASUAL" WORKER. THBiEE MONTHS' HAIRI> LiABOUM. J'aoies Oollingwood alias Mckjenaie has' done very little work outside of gaol, since lie landed in the Dominion soon© years back—an fact about tihe only time ho did indulge in man- . ual labour was when lie was within , tihe four walk of the prison. .Recently , tiel proceeded to the North Auckland district, where he performed "casual" , labour and' then to Newmarket. He then decided to include the country, diis'tricte in his ever-varyingl itinerary and in due counts© arrived at Thanies. J ECe worried the passengers on the tnain for coins and as soon.. as ; he landed in thiw district he commenced a.■ campaign of cadgingl. B.e aiaked taiadesmen, in their shops, pedestrians in the streets, cab anu cart drivers, and all and sundry for various coins of the realm/" and meeting ■witih a satisfactory response he immediately proceeded to dissolve his easily earned- oaeih in beer. When ■filled with: thds intoxicant he became iniore and more insistent and in some eatses he frightened the. ladies whom he accosted. Complaints were made to* the police and* Constable Butler, who "is in charge of tihe Shortland station, happened along 1 and gathered up Collingwood alias McKenaie. Reference/-to the Police Gazette showed that Collingpod had pursued a policy of "oadge" for years, that ho j had numerous previous convflctio.ns recorded against him that in fact he was. an arrant rogue and vagabond. He appeared before fine Magistrate, Mr Burgess, to-day and when charged' with being a rogue and a beggar said: Well, I suppose I must plead guilty. I bad" a; few drinks and that was the cause of it. I don't remeuiJber asking; for money, "bait I suppose I lßu.st have done it if the police cay so. „ ... ;: . ■ ..- : ■■■ | Sergeant Orean (who prosecuted) :; The police* do.say so I,' And"tnev have ian actual knowledige. that -he., is a begI giar, for he, asked a" constable,'.' ' was; in plain clothes, to help him >. i He also asked, a... Justice of the Peace money, and I believe . a court official w>n.S' also- accosted (Mt Hal- | froy, clerk of. the Court, was,, her© seen to 'female reminiscently; . «nd asked for money. ... .'..,. i 'Hhe Magistnate (to accused): What bsxx& you to «ay? " ■■.-.' ■:. Atecu'sed': Give me anofhor chance, Your Worship. I have been .wiorking and was a casual hand on the railway— i . ■• ' . 'Sergeant Ci-ea-n: Judging.- by hi.v record he miw?.t. have been a very '■casual hand/He has spent most'of bis .time in goal. Accused: If you giye me..another chance. I will gs> straigihf away. I The Magistrate: lam afraid I oa.n't do that.. Ton Save not only ro..ccircd money 'by begging, but ns kooii as you f-eoeived* the money you spent it in liquor. 1 cannot, in the #,tee of your previous record', pass . over the present' bffence. You will be sentenced to three months' 'imprisonmnt -witSh. hard laboiitr in Mt. -Eden gaol. ' ' - *?T -..- ■„ ,-v