CRESSEY’S DEFENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 October 1933, Page 5

CRESSEY’S DEFENCE

“WEST COAST HOSPITALITY.”

An elderly offender, George Cressey, proved to be the “star turn at ie Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth, to-day, and raised numerous laughs duli ng his occupancy of the witness-box. pleaded not guilty, when charged with being unlawfully on the premises of the Oriental Hotel, after hours on October 11. , x ~, , Senior-Sergeant Quayle stated tnat Sergeant Hodgins and Constable Robinson visited the hotel at 9.15 p.m., and, when admitted some minutes later, found Cressey and another man in the cottage at the rear of the hotel. When asked for an explanation, Cressey stated that he got his meals at the hotel, and considered he had a right to be there. Entering the witness-box, Cressey was given the oath, and told to say, “I do.” This did not suit him, however, and, maintaining his hold on I the Bible, he exclaimed, “Right oh. Let me open the book.” He did so, and gave the pages a fervent kiss. He declared that he told the sergeant that he was staying at the hotel “per usual,” that night. Mr W. Meldrum, S.M.: Were you a lodger in the hotel? —I have been baching for many years, and it is a home away from home. They cater for me at any old time at all. "What were you there for this evening?—l suppose I had been there and bad my tea. What time did you have your tea .— Somewhere about six or seven o’clock. This was after nine o’clock. What were you doing there then ? I was there to go to bed. Did you book a room? —Mell, it *s hardly necessary. I have been coming and going to that house for three years. n , T , , • . Did you book a room? —No, but it was understood. I bad my bed in the cottage. It got burnt the other night. Why did you not tell the sergeant that?—l think I did. I tried to the best of my ability to explain the position to him. “There was two of gentlemen there at the time,” added defendant, indicating the police. I robably I had a few aboard!” The Senior-Sergeant: How many drinks did you have? Cressey: Sir, you cuunot dispute tne right of these folk to cater for me, and give me beer if I want it. The old West Coast style you know. The Senior-Sergeant: "Where is your home?—l have a bach near Victoria k That is not far away. What do you want to pay for a bed at the hotel f O r?—lf you got up at 5.30 in the morning, and worked on the wharf for the Union Company, you would be very weary at 12 o’clock at night and would be glad to drop into the first place of hospitality. A fellow comes along begrimed with coal from head to heel, and is glad to go upstairs. The great hospitality of the West Coast, you know. Mr J. W. Hannan (for the licensee): You have slept in the cottage quite regularly? —Yes, for years and years. Did you sleep there any night during that week the police caught you? /—Yes, several nights. Did you sleep there the night beEore ?__l W ant to be strictly truthful. I could not say. I get mixed up with dates, you know. “I was called to the police camp last night by radio, or whatever the devil you call it over 'the ’phone,” declared Cressey, but he was interrupted by the S.M., who remarked, “That will do.” Defendant apparently did not hear, and went on talking, but the sergeant told him to step down from the wit-ness-box, as the S.M. did not want to hear him. “Thank you,” eaid Cressey, as he left the box. “Thank you,” said the sergeant, not to be outdone in politeness. Being a statutory first offender, Cressey was convicted and ordered to pay 10/- costs.