MANY CONVICTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 January 1929, Page 10

MANY CONVICTIONS

TALE OF TWO SISTERS. (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, January 10. Hobbs and Sutcliffe have nothing on Mary and Isabella McKegney. Batting at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, to the bowling of SubInspector Fitzpatrick, they carried the total score of partnership to 307. This is easily a record for any wicket in any match on the Magistrate’s Court oval. In consideration of their great effort, the umpire, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., decided to give them a rest for the next three months. Both were charged with drunkenness, obscene language, and being deemed idle and disorderly persons, in that they had no lawful visible means of support. “I was certainly drunk,” said Bella, when charged. ‘‘But I don’t remember using obscene language. I’m not idle and disorderly. I’m nearly seventy. How can 1 ” Here she embarked on a lengthy dissertation which was cut short by Court officials. “I plead guilty,” thus Mary when charged with being drunk. “I took a little. It upset me- My nerves are all to pot. I don’t use bad language as a rule, but I suppose I must have. I haven’t shown my nose outside the door where I have been staying for six months.” At this stage another soliloquy was brought to a stop. ‘‘These two have been a disgrace to the city for twenty-five or thirty years,” said the Sub-Inspector, opening the attack with fast bowling. “Age doesn’t improve them. Last night they were drunk in Hagley Avenue. They entertained a large crowd, which comprised members of both sexes, by singing and shouting. When a constable arrived on the scene, they made use of the language complained of. In regard to the third charge, it is for the two accused to prove they have lawful means. ’ ’ P.C. 112 then gave formal evidence of the arrest. It was slow bowling, but deadly on the wet wicket. Mary, however, played a straight bat. “1 was never outside the door,” she said. “How can we get on if hounded down all the time with me nearly sixty and her (Bella) neafly seventy?” “On the charge-sheet your ages are specified as 54 and 56,” pointed out the umpire. “Oh, is that so?” defended Mary. “I wish I could die. I wish I had died under that operation I had. My nerves have gone to pot-” “I will put you where your nerves will be all right,” said Mr Mosley. “Have you anything to say, Isabella?” “Go on. Have you anything to say?” prompted Mary. Bella said something for about five minutes, before her flow was cut off. “Oh, well,” Mary finished for her. “We haven’t got long to live. We have wealthy sisters, but they will not give us a home on account of the disgrace and getting our names in the papers. Never mind, in the next world I will be before God, who will give me real justice.” “For drunkenness,” said the umpire who has the last word on these occasions, “you are both convicted and discharged. For the obscene language and on the idle and disorderly charge you are each entenced to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labour.” When the adjournment was taken, Mary’s tally was 202 not out, and Isabella’s 105, not out.