“VERY. VERY DRUNK.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 19 July 1934, Page 10

“VERY. VERY DRUNK.”

Man’s Hazy Recollection of Theft. “ Very, very drunk ” was the description which John Francis Magneil applied to his condition on July 11, when questioned by Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Police Court this morning regarding the theft of a man’s overcoat valued at £lO. Magneil, a labourer, 49 years of age, of Winchcombe Street, pleaded guilty to the theft of the coat, but his recollections of how he came to have it were very hazy. Police evidence revealed that he had twenty-six previous convictions. His twenty-seventh cost him six months’ imprisonment. ; Senior-Sergeant Fox said that the ! accused was wearing one coat and j carrying another on his arm when accosted by a constable on the evenI ing of July 12. He ga’ve various explanations about how .the coat which he was carrying had come into his possession. When searched at the Police Station, however, a company dividend warrant was found hidden in his clothing. This bore the name and address of the owner of the coat. The accused said that his actions had been affected by a serious accident in which he had received head injuries. The Magistrate: When did this accident happen? Accused: Seven years ago. I had eighteen stitches in my head. The Magistrate: That caused you to have twenty-six previous convictions. Magneil he was a wool classer and could go to a job in a few weeks. He promised not to appear in Court again. The Magistrate: You’ll be qualifying j as an habitual criminal, i Accused: I hope not, your Worship. { The Magistrate: Well you will. Six * months’ imprisonment.