A WITTY BEGGAR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXX, Issue 81, 7 April 1894, Page 3

A WITTY BEGGAR.

* (London oorrospondent N.Z. Times). Many Antipodean* have found themselves " hard set" when ia London to wile away the tedious hoars of a wet morning. I wonder how many ever think of a Polioe Court as a place of amusement ? amd yet there ia often plenty of fun to be got out »f a moraing'a session at, say, Marlborough street. I can recommend Monday as the but day ef the week as a rule. Oa the warning of " the last as ever was" I was persuaded to enter tha Court presided by Mr Hanuay, aad spent an hour pleasantly enough. Chief of the batch of email oases disposed of during that time was a oharge of begging against an old soldier named James Kennedy. If this individaal had devoted bis undoubted talents ef persuasion to canvassing for an insurance oempany, or to the selling of useless artiolas to thrifty housewives, instead of to begging, he would to-day have been a rioh man and a respeoted member of sooiety. He is a " fine figure of a man," tall aid straight, as becomes one whe has served hia Queen and country, but he has a reprehensible habit of begging from members of the Service Clubs. Kennedy, it seems, is so full of anecdotes of the various campaigns in which the officers he approaches has served that be usually obtains alms. Of sourße if his intended victim is a Tenth Hussar man Kennedy was also in " the dear old Tenth," and if a Geld stream officer, Keaaedy served under him ia saoa and suoh oampaigns. For bsggiag parpoies, indeed the old rip could accommodate himself to any regimtat in the British army, and eould make his tale gooi and stand with oredit suoh cross-examination as an occasional careful dispenser ef alms would subjeot him to. Kennedy lost his pension throagh falling into the hands of the polioe, and of the last niaeteea years of his life be has spent no fewer than seventeen in gaol in short sentence terms, so the gaoler stated. When put into dook on Monday to answer another accusation of mendicity, Kennedy saluted Mr Haaaay in the regulation style and stoed to "Attention." "Keanedy," said the Magistrate stsrnly, " I am very eorry to see you here again. I doa't like to sea the same faces here time after time for it shows the remedies I try are not effective." "Sir!" replied the hoary old sinner, with a furthtr salute, " Teu are euoh a fascinating geatlemaa that one can't help earning frequently to see you." The Court roared, the pelioeman made horrible grimaces in their endeavour to keep the regulatioH look of dignity an their faasß, and the Magistrate could not help laughing eutrigbt. "If you are going to flatter me I think you had better be let off at ooce, and I sincerely hope I shan't seeyeuhere again." " Bless me," remarked James pleasantly, " I trust your wersbip isn't thinking about resigning?" " Be off 1 " oricd Mr Hannay, vainly andsavauriog to oonceal his amusement, aad Kennedy saluted, and marched out of Court, winkiag en route to the various members of the force. Consideriag his previous ooaviotions, a very long " black list" they made, the old chap ceuld scarcely have expeoted to be so leniently dealt with . But be exhibited no surprise at his let off, and probably knew that his age (he is within a few months of 80) would plead for him as well as his glib tongue.