POLICE COURT.

Waipa Post, Volume IX, Issue 432, 16 July 1915, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

At the local Police Court on Wednesday morning before Messrs Richards and Jones J's.P., Frank Gones pleaded guilty to a charge preferred against hiurby Constable Miles of having no lawful visible means of support. It seems that Gones is a Hungarian subject, and hails from the frontier of Turkey, Austria and Hungary. He is a baker by trade, and two years ago escaped from an American ship at Auckland. Later he worked for Messrs Sutherland Bros, at Te Awamutu, and according to the police report had proved himself a very good workman. Three months ago he was discharged, and, possibly because of his slight knowledge of the English language, he decamped there and then. In the interim he appears to have , wandered about the country, although it was difficult to interpret his story when he tried to speak in court, It seemed that he had not been naturalised, and now that his homeland was at war with Britain, naturalisation was impossible, and, being a foreigner, membership of the Bakers' Union was denied him. His position was an unfortunate one, as it was impossible for him to locate work at his trade in consequence. How best to deal with the question before them baffled the* luslices, who appealed to Sergt. Cassells for advice. The man was in a pitiable condition, and when arrested had only twopence in his possession. Finally, lie vvas convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment in the Auckland prison, and in the meantime it was ordered that the acting-consul for Austria be acquainted of the facts, and asked to provide some suitable means fur meeting the special circumstances on the man's release.