THE COFFIN PREFERRED

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13273, 31 August 1916, Page 4

THE COFFIN PREFERRED

TO TERM AT ROTOROA.

INEIJR I ATE'S TWELVE MONTHS

A well-known offender, namei Patrick Desmond Murphy,, appeared be fore -Air E. Rawsoii, S. M., at the Hamil ton Police Court this morning to answe a charge ot drunkenness, and breakinj bis prohibition order at Cambridge 01 August ltf. Defendant, who is 7

years of age, was very "tottery," while his lack of hearing was remarkably pronounced, and a constable had to extend his lung power to its maximum capacity to convey to the old man the events of the Court applying directly to his own charges. Senior-Sergeant Cassells said that an application would be made to have defendant committed to Rotoroa Island, where he had undergone a previous term of incarceration. This was the only remedy that would be effective in the interests of the defendant, who, since arrested, had been undergoing medical treatment at Mt. Eden, where he had incurred expenses amounting to L' 1 7 s Gd.

Constable Cleary, of Cambridge, said that soon after the defendant came out of Kotoroa he started drinking again at Cambridge, and bottles of whisky at the rate of two a day, for a period of three weeks, were traced to the defendant, who was lying in filthy surroundings at his house when the constable called. He was prohibited shortly after that, but it was his custom to go round the hotels of a Sunday morning, and drains the dregs of bottles in the back-yards. The defendant was in receipt of 30s per week, and a free house, but he never bought any food with his allowance. When he kept away from liquor he was a thorough gentleman. When told that the police were applying to have him returned to the Island defendant replied to the effect that it would be better to put him in his coffin than to send him to i?otoroa. He pleaded to oe sent to a religious home, but Constable Cleary said that such action would be no use, as the defendant would not lie under the supervision that was so essential to his welfare in keeping him away from liquor. His Worship resolved to commit the defendant to Kotoroa for a period of twelve months .and also to pay the amount incurred for medical attention. The old man heard the verdict with a dumb-founded sort of expression, but he recovered himself sufficiently to make application to be allowed to secure a change of wearing apparel from Cambridge. His Worship assured him that the police would meet his requirements in this connection, and he tottered slowly away to take his seat in the prisoner's vehicle, waiting outside.