A GAY OLD SPARK.

Evening Star, Issue 12873, 24 July 1906, Page 3

A GAY OLD SPARK.

Some of the gay doings of Mr Oliver Wansey, who owned up to having seen seventy-nine winters, were told on July 11 in the Police Court at Sydney, when he charged Alexander Barker, described as an agent, with having fraudulently appropriated £5, the property of Wansey. The old gentleman, who was dressed in a costume of sporting cut and wore a gay buttonhole, entered tlie witness box. According to his evidence he gave Barker £5 to take to a lady in Crown street, to whom he owed it for books he had purchased from her. Barker returned and said he could not find the place, and > was asked to try again. The next time that Wansey met Barker the latter, according to Wansey, made the ridiculous excuse that 6he had returned the money. Senior Sergeant Davis: Are you a man of independent means?—l should think so. I have been for many years. Where do you live?—At Wansey road, Randwick. They did me the honor to call the street after me.—(Laughter.) Mr Gardiner (for accused): Did yon once ride through the Strand Arcade on horseback in daylight?— Yes, five years ago. I was looking for a policeman.—(Laughter.) Did you take a barmaid from the Tivoli out on horseback, and call upon a policeman to arrest her, because she galloped faster than you?^—What rot. I wanted her stopped because she could not ride the horse. It was a valuable cob, and I did not want him knocked about. Do you drink a loll—l have never been tipsy m my life. How"old are you?—l wiQ be eighty next year. Did you recently arrange to get married to a married woman forty-five years of age? —I did not knew she was married, and she said, she was only thirty-five.—(Laugh-ter.) Did you invite all the barmaids to the wedding?—l didn't invite them, but they came round all the same. Was the ceremony stopped by a telegram fEom the brother of the bride-elect, teDing you she was married?— Yes. Do yon nemember being in the TSvoK on one occasion with a cheque for £5 in one hand and a whisky and soda in the other, and dropping tbe cheque, which defendant picked up?—l never dropped a cheque in my Blew—(Laughter.) What time did you get home that night? —Sometimes I don't get home at night, but I.did on that particular Tuesday night. I 'am often not home at night. I have not slept in my own bed for the kst three nights. Mr Smithers, S-M.: There is an element of doubt in the.case. Accused will be discharged.