COURT SCENES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1928, Page 4

COURT SCENES

LONDON, July 7.

Police-Constable 1059 S, a young officer, having done his duty, returned to the police section house at Camden Town oil Thursday night, when he was surprised and shocked to see John of the white whiskers undressing himself on the steps of the unmarried policemen’s home.

“ This is not a. bedroom,” said the officer severely. “ I know it isn’t,” replied John, struggling with his waistcoat. “ 1 thought it was the police station.” “ I will take you to the police station,” said P.C. 1059 S, “ because (sniffing) you are drunk.” “I am not drunk. lam sleepy,” insisted John, who appeared in the dock before M r Hay Halkett at Marylcbonc Police Court yesterday.

‘‘The officer says you were drunk,” observed the magistrate. “ How many drinks did you have? ”

“Just half a dozen bitters,” said John, “ the same I have every day. I wont to bed at Rowton House at halfpast eight, and at ton o’clock they pulled me out, asked for my bed ticket, aiul turned me outside half dressed.” Awakened from bis beauty sleep. John was very angry as Well as sleepy, and when be arrived at the section liousb, which be mistook for the police station, be found that in bis baste he was improperly dressed. He was wealing bis waistcoat Outside his jacket, he had difficulty in keeping his trousers in a vertical position, and, said ho, lie was making a readjustment of his portable wardrobe when the young and zealous constable accused him of being drunk and undressed. “ Ho says your breath smelt of beer,” remarked the magistrate.

“ That must have been snuff,” replied John. “ I do take snuff. He is a young policeman and •■would not know the difference.” I?efresiling himself with a pinch of snuff, John retired to await further evidence from the station inspector.

Arthur and Henry arc two good boys as boys go, but they were seiz.ed with nn unwholesome curiosity to know whether or not a Belgian franc (worth about 2AI) would persuade nn automatic cigarette machine that it was a shilling. For a long time they persisted in feeding the franc into the machine, which conscientiously returned the coin. “ It’s no use,” said a watching detective. “You can’t tire that machine out. and besides, cigarettes are nov good for you at your age.” Both hoys said they wore very happy at home, and Arthur, aged 17, was put on probation, and Henry, aged 15, was disc’ urged.

Deserted four years ago for another woman by her husband, who has been a captain in the regular Army, a middle-aged women said that, being a Roman Catholic, she bad forgiven him and taken him back. He went away again, however, and he stopped allowing her bis disability pension of £SO a year and she bail to go into the workhouse. “ Do yon want your husband or ms money?” asked the magistrate pertinently as lie granted a summons. “ He is a slippery customer, but I want him,’ said the applicant, Wonderful are these wives who forgive hut never forget.

(five a first offender n chance and lie will r rofft by the lesson, and that leniency is the policy of the Metropolitan 'magistrates. But employers are usually li it so generous, or so optimistic. A young messenger employed by the Great Western Railway Company stole’ and pledged a wedding ring and a dress ring valued at £lO sent to the lost property office at Paddington. " If 1 remand this young man for a week to giro him a fright ho will probably be more trustworthy than most other people,” said Mr Hay Halkett. The solictor representing the railway company said offenders were always dismissed on conviction', whereupon the magistrate observed in remanding the messenger that lie would like to know what the employers intended to do, because they could do more damage than lie himself was likely to do.

The problem of the first offender worries all magistrates. Employers naturally, in justice to tlie rest of tbc staff, are not inclined to restore a black sheep to the fold, but f know, and the magistrates and the court missionaries know, that many a young fellow lias been reformed by the saving mercy of another chance.