CRESSEY’S QUEST

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 March 1930, Page 2

CRESSEY’S QUEST

HE ASKED FOR SAUSAGES. BUT RECEIVED AN UMBRELLA. With an umbrella hanging on his arm in defiance of the sunshine, 'George Cressey, a well-known figure at Greymouth, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court. On the umbrella there hung an amusing tale, in which a parcel of sausages was also concerned. The telling of the story caused the heartiest laughter heard in the Court for many a day, and the official demands for “Silence!” came from constables who found it difficult to practise what they preached. Cressey pleaded not guilty to a charge of being unlawfully on the premises of the Oriental Hotel, after hours on March 3. Olga Kyle, wife of the licensee, was charged with aiding and abetting Cressey, and she also pleaded not guilty. Both defendants were represented by Mr J. AV. Hannan, and the cases were heard together. Senior-Sergeant C. E. Roach stated that Constable Henrickson saw Cressey being admitted to the Oriental Hotel at 9.10 p.m., by the wife of the licensee. The constable hurried up before the door could be closed, and went in and asked Cressey his business. Cressey said he went to the hotel for a parcel of sausages. Mrs Kyle said, “Oh, no, George, you didn’t. You came for your umbrella.” She then went and got an umbrella, which she gave to Cressey. Constable Henrickson said that he went along Richmond Quay behind Cressey, and saw him admitted to the hotel. Witness placed his fbot in the door to prevent it being closed. When Mrs Kyle saw him, she let him in. Cressey, in reply to a question by witness, said he went to the hotel for a parcel of sausages, but Mrs Kyle said he went there for his umbrella. Cressey was half drunk, and after leaving the hotel followed witness along the street and said, “You are not going to make a case of this, are you?” Witness spoke to Mrs Kyle on the following day, and told her she was liable for aiding and abetting Cressey. The Senior-Sergeant: Do you know if he left any sausages there?—No. He never left any?—No. What explanation was given about the umbrella? —It was taken off Cressey previously during the day. It was a joke, I believe. It was taken for a joke, and hidden? —Yes. Did he mention anything about going for the umbrella when you spoke to him? —No. Did he know the umbrella was there?—No. When he got outside, he said he was glad to get the umbrella back. Mr Hannan: Was Cressey at the door, or inside the hotel? —He was walking along ten or fifteen yards in front of me when he knocked at the door. I presume Mrs Kyle would see you as soon as the door was opened?—-No, not until I was right opposite the door. Was Cressey inside the hotel? —Yes. She was just in the act of closing the door. You have no doubt that the umbrella was Cressey’s?—Yes, it was his umbrella.

A WATERFRONT JOKE. Giving evidence, after kissing the Bible with a smack which echoed through the Court, Cressey said he recognised “the gentleman in Court” as the constable who accosted him. He had < been in the hotel on the morning of the same day, between nine o’clock and noon. Mr Hannan: You bach, do you not? —Yes.

Had you bought any sausages that day?—Yes. Had you the sausages with you in the. hotel, earlier in the day?—l brought them along from the butcher’s. I was perfectly sober that night, although this gentleman (turning to the constable) says I was drunk. I went home about mid-day, and was there for six hours or so. Some of my mates on the waterfront had got away with my umbrella as a joke. What about the sausages?—l found I was short for breakfast, and came along. You went back to the hotel where you thought you left them?—Yes. By whom was the door opened?— Mrs Kyle. You asked her for your sausages? She told you there were no sausages there, but that your umbrella was there? —Yes. You say that some of your mates had taken your umbrella and hidden it in the hotel during the day?—Yes. Did you believe you had also left your sausages there? —Yes, honestly. Where were they?—ln my locker at the Watersiders’ Hall. I got them next morning.

The Senior-Sergeant: When did you buy the sausages?—ln the forenoon of that particular day. In the shades of evening, I discovered I was minus the sausages. You went back on your tracks?-— Yes. There was no work on the waterfront that morning, and I got in with a few of the boys, just natural like. “Naturally,” agreed the smiling S.M. The Senior-Sergeant: Why did you leave it until 9.10 p.m.—l am not too sure about the time. I got the date from the summons, and took that as being accurate. I put the question to Mrs Kyle right away, “Did I leave a parcel of sausages here?” This gentleman (the constable) heard that question put to Mrs Kyle. We practically all arrived there together. You had not spoken to Mrs Kyle before the constable came on the scene? —I think he could have heard the remarks.

The constable asked you what you came for, and you said—“Sausages'.” exclaimed Cressey, amidst loud laughter. The Senior-Sergeant: Mrs Kyle said you went there for your umbrella? — i Yes, and she got it. I was very thankful to get it. What was your idea in going into the hotel when you found there were no sausages there?—We might have walked to the middle of the room, but the bar was not in sight. I claim that I was on legitimate business. CONSTABLE “NO SPORT.” You did not have to go into the hotel for the sausages?—l got the umbrella. I believe this gentleman here practically escorted me into the hotel. It was not lit up. I don’t

think he had light enough to write my name, although I gave him my name and address. Your recollection is not too good. Well, I am a bit up in years now. , “I think it was just an after-thought of the constable to put either party up "for it,” declared Cressey. “I have never run against anything more unsportsmanlike. I have been 50 yeais 'on the wild and woolly Coast, and never saw a policeman attempt such a dirty trick! He never said Good day’ to the lady of the house. I am prepared to kiss the Book on that. That was the time to ask Mrs Kyle about her bona tides.” What did you go after the constable for, and say, “You are not going to put me up?”—lf he says that, he is a perjurer. I never asked a favour of a constable yet, and don’t intend to! Mrs Kyle said that Cressey was at the hotel during the day. He might have left the sausages there, but she did not see them. His umbrella was there. She answered the door that night, and Cressey was there, with the constable behind him. “George put one foot inside the door, and said he had called for a parcel of sausages. I said, ‘Oh, no, you have called for your umbrella.’ I hopped inside, got the umbrella, and said, ‘Good-night, George. I will see you

to-morrow.’ ” At this stage, witness commenced to weep, but was consoled by Mr Hannan, who said, “It is all right, Mrs Kyle. There is nothing serious about the matter.” In reply to the Senior-Sergeant, witness stated that she did not shut the door. The constable put his foot inside it. She was not shutting the door when he did so. Cressey had one foot inside the door. Was his condition so bad that he did not know what he went for?—He was quite sober. What was he like in the morning?— I don’t remember. He was not that bad that we had to put him out, anyhow. Is he a regular customer? —Yes. Does he go there after hours?—No. He is not one of those who go there after hours? —No. You do have people there after hours? Mr Hannan objected to this question, and it was not repeated. Witness again denied that she was shutting the door, and appealed to the constable, but he remarked that he had already given his evidence. . The Senior-Sergeant said that if Cressey had stood outside the door and asked questions, it would have been all right. Instead of that, the constable said, Cressey went into the hotel, and, as the door was being closed behind Cressey, he (the constable) stopped it being closed. “You say that is not true?” he asked witness. “It is not true,” replied Mrs Kyle. “Very good,” said the Senior-Ser-geant. Mi* Hannan: Did you see the constable as soon as you saw Cressey, about the same time? —Yes.

BENEFIT OF DOUBT. Summing up, the S.M. said the evidence went to show that Cressey went to the hotel at 9.10 o’clock on the night of March 3, with the idea of finding out whether or not a parcel of sausages, which he got in the morning, and which were missing, had been left by him at the hotel; that he knocked, and Mrs Kyle came to the door and asked him what he wanted, and that he said he had come looking for the sausages. There was a little conflict as to what actually happened after he put the question. It was suggested that Cressey went into the house, and was there for some other purpose than to get the sausages, or to get the umbrella. If he went to the premises honestly enquiring for his sausages, he did not commit any offence. He had gone home, apparently, and slept off ..the effects of his meeting with certain friends of his in the morning, and when he came to, he got wandering around looking for the sausages, and went back on his’ tracks, as he said. If he was honestly at the hotel merely to enquire for the sausages, he was committing no offence. With regard to the umbrella, Mrs Kyle said that it had been taken from Cressey by his mates and left at the hotel. She found it, and knew that it belonged to Cressey. She said that she told him he had come for the umbrella, and gave it to him. The question was whether Cressey went there for the purpose of getting drink, and whether Mrs Kyle admitted him to the hotel for the purpose of supplying him with drink after hours. He thought the prosecution had failed to establish thq offence, although the circumstances were a little suspicious. He would give defendants the benefit of the doubt, and dismiss the cases.