THE SEAMY SIDE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 June 1926, Page 4

THE SEAMY SIDE

TALKS TOLD TO MAO SSTKATK. Optical illusions worn the downfall of Kichard Lewins, soldier, tailor, inspector of shells ,und writer of misleading advertisement s, who told Iho story of his life at Clorkeuwell Police Court yesterday. An intelligent looking man of <l4, lie said In- had served as a young man in ihe Kgyidian campaign rejoined ilu- army at the outbreak of the (treat War .and ontained a responsible position and a pension of 15s. a. week at Woolwich Arsenal. J!u( i Inti was only a sketch oI his career. Tim yaps were tilled by a detective who read mil a s. t ies ol convictions agaist l.ewitis. including a sentence of live years’ penal servi-

tude for fraud in IS US. His last lapse, however, was in Hum. Since that time be had gone straight until recently, when he' returned to ihe evil pnu'tof twvnty y«*ars In u Jona - ,sptM‘(.;li from buck Iho man of many trabes attributed his criminal career lo iho harsh sentences fur having been drunk and disorderly. The matter of a £1 cheque, he said, got him live years, and when he came out of prison, lie associated with men who taught him I lie advertisement trick. Hy trade a tailor, he set up as an optician, and' advertising for an assistant, requested tin as a security. He got file £lO but failed to provide the job and was arrested in lied al Islington at halfpast six in the morning. Already lie had been visited by bailiffs seeking to enforce orders in two other eases but as bo lived in furnished rooms they returned empty handed. Lewis wiio promised to refund the money, was remanded for 0 week to give him u. chance to keep his word.

Mr. J. 13. ktaudbach, K.C., the new Metropolitan ’magistrate, who eoines from Manchester, was impressed tiy the velrean’s story and at Hie same lime influenced hy Ids "shocking recent," and Lewis’s fate is in his own hands. If he keeps ids word he will escape prison,- which he has avoided lor nearly twenty years. The new -magistrate lias a genial personality and a musical voice, or average height and fair complexion, lie is more ready to smile than lo frown, and- ids fines-are mi the light side. He has u brisk, business-like manner .emphasised by a pair of horn-rimmed- spectacles, and while he welcomes a joke, .1 should say that ho will not stand any nonsense. Yesterday he. laid a light list of (TerkonSlvell, but lm soon gave the impression that he knew his job.

'Laura t’oaeock put on her tine feathers to celebrate a holiday. and it was a pity that she spoiled tin atli active outfit hy gelling helplessly drunk, the penally for which was half a crown. And that is the cheapest .charge fur drunkennos in Hie Metroplitau area.

1 iiII Hailey look a deep breath. and wilhout wailing lor (lie constable in (lie ease (o give evidence, anneim ced dial lie had not louehei! a drop of drink lor eight months and dial he was suffering from epilepsy, neurasthenia, three small ports, and a loss of mi more. The magistrate returned the broad Smile of the eendable ,aiul added another halt a crown to 11 ic coffers of the court. Alexander Pinkerton also might have been in the half-crown queue had it not been for Ins wife. Itlrs. Pinkerton waited outside., the court until a. constable.-had told.; .all he knew about Alexander's had language and intoxication, an dthen she entered tlie witness-box and added considerably to tin. court's knowledge. "1 am not a. lead woman," she declared. " and 1 can't siaiul his ways!." "X-o. 1m does not knock me about; be plover hits-, me," she 'said in respitfise to an inquiry, "but -he- wakes up (In' children and the aiul- h says he will swing for me. yiie got ‘a' snnimons for threats aim her husband had the choice of paying’ 10s or going down for s'vcri days-

AVJial is hel*n*rthl/i 1,1 bi\a record .catch of ' gH’bji’er ,lore\\ ;irt .J.sland occurred last Week, .w/len- Mr. .f? < ':uu|ilh’H • and Up' crew of ’flic cuUer .-Valinai brought in just over (iOObib of proper and;6l>nlb. of blue cod. As the wlftglit was approximately llu-ee lons, the'jjllle r.ratl".w im naturaliy well, down in Mre water with her exceptional. load. They appear lo have struck ft" large school of groper uml mudo Iho most ot thoii* o]>]>oi r t miu \ . In about three- months Christchurch will have the lines! cathedral orgaif in New Zealand.’j...PQr some,months past workmen have'been busy dismantling the old organ at the imthedval, as it has beco.me out of dale and the working parts are worn. It was. decided that a practicallv new organ should be built and it is hoped that (lie new instrument; will be ready in three months. The old organ contained a few stops oi exceptional beauty, and these were retained, but beyond‘this the‘whole instrument will be new. Tf is now-'on the water, and is ‘expected to land at Lyttelton in about a month.