AN OLD OFFENDER

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 222, 21 October 1929, Page 5

AN OLD OFFENDER

E1GHTY-FOUR PREVIOUS CONYICTIONS, ANOTHER MONTH IN GAOL. At tlie Hastings Police Courfc this morning', b"fore 5lr A. A. George, J.P., Patrick Sullivan, aged 52, was charged with, on October 10, 1929, at Hastings, being deemed to be an -idle and disorderly person ivithin the meaning of the Police Offences Act, in that. he placed himself in Heretaunga street to beg alms.. I'lie accused pleaded guilty. _ Senior-Sergeant Dempsey said tliafc on Saturday morning the accused approached Constable Heslop and asked for sixpence to get a drinlt. Later, at 3.45 p.m. Sergeant Doggett saw hixu sticking up people- and warned him to get out of the town'. The accused promised to do ko, but still later he again accosted pedestriaus and asked for money. He had no money on him when arrested, but had he got any it woura probably have heen spent in drink. "Twice this year," said the senior, "'lie lias heen charged with similar offences and he was ordered to come up for sentenc-e jf called upon within 12 months. Over the last 25 years this man has had no less than 81- convictions and this does not include numerous charges of drunkenness. He lias heen hefore almost everv court in New Zealand. He is a hopeless case and has been on 'the Tsland' three times." The accused said he liad no recollertioiv of wliat had bappened. Hp was sentenced to a month "on ihe hill."