"THE TOWN OF TITIPU."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 280, 7 August 1909, Page 6

"THE TOWN OF TITIPU."

IN THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT. DOYLE AGAINST DOYLE. A leaf from tho libretto' 'of tho popular Gilbert-Sullivan comic opera, "Tho Mikado," has been placed iu tho records of by-law caM* in the Magistrate's' Court. Thoso familiar with tho opera will remember that 'Sir Win, Gilbert causes Koko, the Lord High Executioner of the town of Titipu, to bo charged' wilhcarrying oiit his own oxcculion, and much humour is derived from tho arguments which Koko uses to domoiistrato tho. fact that— largely from wau't of experience—ho is not competent to carry out his'duties, Yesterday Mr. .fas. Doyle, City Council inspector,) charged Jas. Doylo, an ordinary .citizen, with attempting last Saturday 'to board a tramcar whilst in motion. The caso was fairly conducted throughout. Defendant did not once attempt to interrupt the prosecutor, porlinps for tho reason that ho would had to have taken tho words'out of tho prosecutor's mouth. Nor did ho offer to go into tho witness box to give uvidenco.on his own bohalf. Had ho dono so, it.would havo been interesting to hear him cross-examined—by himself. In fact, tliero is no record of a caso in which prosecution and defence hare displayed such unanimity of upiuion, such singleness of mind.' ......... r -

As prosecutor, Air. Doylo intimated that defendant Doylo intoiulcd-to plead guilty. His Worship: Is defendant a first offender? Mr. Doylo: Yos, your Worship. So far oe I am aware, ho has not boon convicted before, Having thus discharged his > duties as pro-

secutor, Mr. Doyle how made a lightning transformation, and defendant put in an l, appearance. .He expressed' regret for the'breach of the;. by-laws, and., explained that: he'did ''.'not commit, the. offence intentionally. .'When ho' was.on-the point of boarding a. car,, opposite the Police. Station,.he"said,'.a. police' official hailed him. This official at the time was just alighting from another car. Withf jhis . hand, •on ; *the-3 door-handle of /the-;.'car, in motion. - That - stopped conversation

with the official but the inotorman, who' was not aware of Mr; Doyle's position, sot the car in, motion. - That stopped - the con-1 versation for the time being, ■ for Mr.' Doylo Was unable to talk with' fluency and dignity,' while hanging on to the car with, one hand.. Tho. summary punishment :more . than ■ .fitted the crime,.for when he appeared in Court,.Mr. Doylo bore,on his face the marks of.his accident. This, he pleaded as further '.extenuation of the offence, to say nothing of-the indignity of the position in which he. was ,bound to ptaco himself. His Worship remarked that a'case in.' which' prosecutor and defendant we're one and the same person was unusual. Although an officer of; the corporation,. Mr. Doyle- had regarded himself, as. an .ordinary citizen,, and carried out his duty of enforcing the, city bylaws very honourably. and sensibly, even, to' prosecuting himself. As in .similar cases;" ho" must be convicted and fined tho'usual'amount.. 'I must sympathise," remarked his- Worship, with defendant, and I hope the offence ■ will • never occur again.":'A'-fine of 55.,' with costs 75., was entered against defendant.: . Defendant: .Will yon 'allow time?,- v. .■■ ,/,' His Worship: Twenty-four hours to pay.-, ,/.-,