JARDINE’S BAT

Grey River Argus, 9 February 1929, Page 10

JARDINE’S BAT

STOLEN FOR A SOUVENIR An aftermath to the first Test occurred at the Brisbane Police Court last month. John McPherson (aged 29) was charged with, “that on the s’h of December* 1928, at Brisbane, he did steal one cricket bat valued at £2/2, the property of Douglas Robert Jardine.” McPherson pleaded guilty to the charge. Sub-Inspector Lipp said that the bat was the property of Jardine, the well-known English cricketer, who was in Brisbane t 0 play in the Test. At the end of the match, the bat was placed in a bag along with other material and conveyed by motor lorry to the Belle Vue Hotel, wher e the team was staying. When the bag was missing and Jardine, who was very concerned, reported the matter to the police. Th e acused. when interviewed by the police, admitted opening the bag and removing the bat. The police had nothing else aginst the accused, who was unemployed. McPherson told the magistrate that he was very sorry for what he had done. Mr P. Hishom, police magistrate, asked accused why he had taken the bat, and McPherson replied that he had only taken th e bat. which was an old one, as a souvenir. He said i‘ was a habit to take souvenirs from different sporting champions; for instance, it was customary to obtain the jerseys from famous football teams. The magistrate then asked what would h e (accused) do if it were a famous motor-racer —would he. take the car or would he be satisfied with the wheel and a tyre? McPherson was then convicted and discharged and th© bat was ordered to be returned to Jardine.