PARSNIP WINE, WHISKY AND BEER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18992, 11 February 1930, Page 10

PARSNIP WINE, WHISKY AND BEER.

OR HOW ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER.

George Edward Johnson who was convicted on Saturday on a charge of defrauding Percy Lush of the sum of £5 by falsely representing that his mother had died in the Rangiora Hospital, appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M. at the Magistrate’s Court to-day for sentence. He was sent to prison for six months to do hard labour.

An outstanding feature of this case,” said Chief-Detective Carroll, 44 is the wonderful mother this man has. This is about the hundred and fiftieth time j that she has died. Just recently he went to Lush, who is an elderly man, and, by representing that his mother was very ill, extracted £2 10s from him on the grounds that he wanted to get her some gifts. Evidently he spent this amount, for he was back again in a couple of days with a story that his mother had died, and he wanted money for the funeral expenses. He received another £2 10s. A complaint was made to the police, and two detectives went to his home and interviewed him. They decided that they should bring him in, but he bolted. He escaped out the back door, across the yard, and over a fence. The detectives re-cap-tured him after a little time, but he was not content with making one attempt to get free, trying again. Finally he was brought in.

44 1 believe he is normally a good worker,” went on the Chief-Detective, but he is a real wild man when he is in liquor. He was imprisoned for a month in 1926 for being idle and disorderly, and there was a language charge against him in 1927.” “ I went out carolling on New Year’s Eve and had some of this home-made parsnip wine,” were the words with which Johnson commenced the plea for another chance. ‘‘After that I had some whisky and then some beer,” he said, “ and that started me on the drinking. I was not in my proper senses -when I went to this man. lam sorry that I used my mother’s name. She is my best friend.” The Magistrate: So your mother is still living?—Yes. Might come in useful again?—Yes. I mean, your Worship, that if I am given another chance I’ll play the game, and keep off the drink. If I’m sent to prison I’ll lose my home and furniture, and my wife says she will leave me." The accused was about to again impress on the Magistrate that he was ready to play the game and stay sober, but Mr Mosley cut him short, sharply informing him that steps would be taken to see that he did not get any drink for the next six months.