THE MORNING LIST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 285, 26 August 1908, Page 11

THE MORNING LIST.

TEN MINUTES IN A COURT HOUSE,

. The occupants of the police. cells tho previous night had been rounded up and gathered together in a little .ante-room off the Magistrates Court—an apprehensive coterie men (and women. The' pit of tho Court was crowded with men and youths, drawn hither by • idle, curiosity or sympathetic interest. The majority of the names on the charge-sheet wera those of offenders for drunkenness, and the prospect of a light ~a J . , » n ° do «l>t • pleased his Worship.. Michael '.calls the Clerk of the Court, nr£rK e T 8 'u®" UP tlle C ° Ul 't orderly, .Michael ambles out of the anteroom and into tho dock. ■ The Sub-Inspector of Police enlightens tho Court as to how and _ -wlien. Michael came to get into tho hands of the police, and concludes by statine that he is penniless. "Now, look here » says his; Worship, eyeing the possessor of'a penitential; headache and empty pockets' "lou know, you are a foolish chap.' Now' aren't you ? I'll give you a chance thia j°'i . e convlcte d and discharged, and don t you como in hero again." Michael looks as though nothing is worth anything at that moment,' and hobbles' back to the ante-room. "Hercules " calls tho orderly, and a diminutive man responds from the back of tho Court. He had beon bailed out the previous night. Hercules is repentant, and asks for another chance, but is fined the amount of his bail. "Mary " is the next, and. admits cheerfully that she had a drop too much. His Worship eyes 1.817. closely, and comncts and discharges her with * warning, "Don't-come here again, my. woman Tho nest comer is an old nfipudoi, and gets little sympathy. "Your last offence was only three days ago— I 'os or .seven days." is the -order o'f tho Court! 1 is Worsmp had seen the next man under tho , lmlueneo ol liquor tho previous day. Defendant is still all nerves as the result of his bout "What happened to vou yesasks * ho - Ma e'strate.. "I wa'sn't well in the morning, your Worship " pro coeds the prisoner. "You weren't well when I saw. .VOU," remarks the Magistrate. , "You were just in that state when you would havo created, a scene. Are you a married man"' "Yes," is the reply, and prisoner is tri v ' en another chance, and advised to take better care ~of- himself. The last of tho list is a young man-with a blackened eye, a trophy of tho previous night's frolicsome ebullition. "Hullo,, you've been running up apainst someone," says his. Worship seriously. "Someone ran up against mo, I think," is tho response, but the Bench ha? the 'final words' which are, "20s. or seven days."