NO LAWFUL MEANS OF SUPPORT

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3258, 16 May 1893, Page 2

NO LAWFUL MEANS OF SUPPORT

Jamksj O'CtiNNOli, an old man, was charged at the Hamilton Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs •John Parr and W, A. liraham, J.l'.s,, with on May ilth having no visible means of support. Constable Forbes conducted tho prosecution.

W, De 11, Turner, secretary and house steward to tho Waikato District Hospital, gave evidence to the effect that on March 2iith O'Connor had left the Hofugo because he had been refused permission to come down ti Hamilton, lie had since applied for re-adinissioii, and at tlio last meeting of the Board Mr Jones moved that O'Connor be iv.-adiuitted to the Refuge, and if he leaves the institution he be not again admitted, and that tho police bo requested t-i arrest him as n vagrant This Mr I terries sec-Hirlcd. Mr Chepmell moved, as an amendment, that O'Connor bo reported to tho polico as a vagrant. This was seconded by Mr Primrose, Tho amendment, on being put, was carried. Tho Board decided to inform the police that O'Connor was to be treated as a vagrant.

From the evidence adnced, whilst an inmato of tho Refuge O'Connor had behaved himself well and there woro no complaints against him. It was only when printed leave to enmo into Hamilton that ho misbehaved himself and got drunk. When in Hamilton he gave music lessons, He had come away from the Rofugo without pennis'ion, and had not beon punished for the offence. O'Connor left because the secretary would not grant him permission to go into Hamilton, Mr Tumor considered he had done all he could for him—tho present case was his own wilful act. Tho byelaws of the Refuge gave the Hoard authority to punish an olfender by layingan information with the police against him, but not to make a vagrant of him by turning him out nf the Refngo, Mr W. Jones a member of tho Hospital Board gave corroborative evidence of tho discussion at the meeting. He thought the Board had made a mistake in lotting the man out, and allowing him to commit himself.

Constable Forbes gavo evidence ns to arresting O'Connor for tho olfenco with which he was charged, O'Connor was over 71 years of age, and through sleeping out and having no proper meals ho was getting weak, both ment illy and physically, He had found him sleeping in outhouses, and getting meals from anyone who would givo them to him, Ho had almost expected to hoar of his being found dead some morning. There were no previous convictions against tho prisoner, who had never beon boko tho court before.

The bench decided to dismiss the case, as there was no cluuge nsniixt O'Connor,