AN EXCITABLE MAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 828, 17 February 1903, Page 3

AN EXCITABLE MAN.

OLD AGE PENSIONS AND DEDNKENNESS. By Tolegraph—Press Association. Napier, last night. A rather peculiar attitudo was adopted in a case at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, when a man was charged with drunkennoss, with using threatening behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of tho peace, and with using threatening behaviour at a country post-office. After boaring the witnesses for the prosocution, counsel for the defendant asked to havo tho charge of drunkonness withdrawn, as aceusod was an old ago pensioner, and all convictions of drunkenness were sont by the Clerk of the Court to Wellington, and probably when accused went to get his noxt instalment he would bo informed that it was not there for him. There was no doubt that accused was very excited at tho time. The police decided to withdraw the first two charges. Both Justices expressed the opinion that tho plea of defendant's solicitor regarding the old age pension was an unfair ono. In the future wfion cases carno before them they must bo decided on tho ovidonco, and so far as tho cases of drunkonness were concerned old age pensions would be no excuse for convictions not boing recorded. A convict’on was recorded on tho third charge.