NOTE OF THE DAY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9697, 29 December 1924, Page 4

NOTE OF THE DAY

A CAPTAIN KIDD OF THE BENCH.

From time to time, strange stories emanate from the United States anent the manner in which justice is .dispensed in that country. Here is the latest that is carried by the American newspaper and it is of such an extraordinary character as to be almost incredible. Ir is stated that a Jersey Justice of the Peace started out on a recent morning front Long Beach, where he' lives, to the little village of Shroudsbury. He stationed hiniself at the bridge before winch long lines of motorists are accustomed to assemble, hired two men. named them as constables and directed them to corral all motorists who pulled out of lino to pass cars ahead. Within a short time 54 motorists were arrested,

charged with reckless driving, 10 dollars 35 cents and this amount split 3 dollars to the Justice. 2 dollars 35 cents to the constable, and o dollars to the State. To complete this pretty little picture of judicial '“knavery the Justice's wife acted <i cashier. Another Justice pointed out a section i it the State motor vehicle law which provides that a defendant “must be arrested and brought before a Magistrate on written complaint, sworn to by the arresting officer. The guilty Justice read the law, adjourned his court and lied back home. It is almost inconceivable that, even in America, the public could be made the victims of such a gross judicial scan din, and more especially seeing thatJrthe incident occurred in the vicjpity of a populous quarter.