THE BEER-CHEWER'S GALL

NZ Truth, Issue 57, 21 July 1906, Page 6

THE BEER-CHEWER'S GALL

A Nuisance to Society "Passed Up."

The fire-eater, ; to those who have watched him, is a mystic individual, the earth-eater,, the medical profession regard with scientific wonder, the beef-eater of the Tower of London is a matter qt historic interest. It is, however, the i "beer-eater," the chewer •of swipes, whom we have m our mind's eye just now. He is a public pest whose society even the criminal m gaol would gladly shun. A ,type of him named Frederick Arnold had the "flure" of the dock at the Magistrate's Court last Tuesday morning. Dirty, greasy, and unkempt, with swollen features and a parched tongue, yet as impudent as such beer importuners are, he had the gall to plead not guilty to charges of being drunk on Custom-house-quay last Monday evening and assaulting Constable McLeod while m .the execution of his duty. The facts surrounding this beer bummer's romance were, as all such romances generally are, short, sweet and simple.: Having cadged enough beer to make: himself offensive and a menace and a bar to trade m any t respectably-con-ducted hotel, he became particularly obnoxious m the Pier Hotel, the licensee of which requested him to favor some other hostelry with his patronage. Politeness was wasted on Arnold, who wouldn't budge even when Constable McLeod asked him to move out. . No other course was then left open to the constable but to chuck him out. Then Arnold wasn't satisfied. His conduct becoming outrageous, the cop nabbed him on a charge of being drunk, and when m the grip of the Law Arnold played up and gave the cop a rough time of it. Having had these facts told of him Arnold unluckily said it was no use saying anything, and Dr. McArthur told him he was right for once, as such beer-eaters as he ought to be put # put of the way for a long 'time, and on eaoh charge he gave him three months. The sentences were made cumulative.