PROWLERS OF THE NIGHT.

NZ Truth, Issue 60, 18 August 1906, Page 8

PROWLERS OF THE NIGHT.

Mr. Hayseed. Hazed aud Hooked.

Kennedy's Kash- Korralled.

W! red .whiskered bloke,, with lob-ster-like ears, and other peculiar .anatomical appurtenances, who lives at West Eyreton, Canterbury, had a red hot time when he visited Christchurch recently. He had been knocking about sampling the sights, and Ithe beer all day and late at night he ,was going at top when he met trouble of an unexpected nature. .Three men came up behind him, and after surveying his personal appearance, and deciding that he would be a good claim to prospect for solid gold had a cut, as the saying is. One said, "Let's go through his kick," a classic remark which has some direct reference to the recesses m one's pants. So his , "kick" was, gone through ; the gentleman whose name was Thomas Kennedy, was knocked down with that scientific accuracy which the case demanded, and his .Dockets gone through for £3. Kennedy cried, "police, murder, thieves" m a. loud exclamatory voice, but singularly enough forgot to yell ■"fire," which seems to be the usual

thing when anything exciting is happening. Ope of the men alleged to have been concerned m this

I HIGHWAY ROBBERY I got clean a\?ay, but Kennedy kept ' the other two— William Murdoch and Peter Tristam— in sight, and gave them m charge to Constable Cleary . The latter had seen a third man bolting at lightning speed when he was going to Kennedy's assistance. Kennedy gave the two men m charge for robbing him and they were celled. This story was told at the Supreme Court where the man from the country recognised the pair as his assailants. In cross-examination by Lawyer Harvey, Kennedy said he was m town for a holiday and had been boosin*- round. Asked if he was married/ single, a grass widower, or what, Kennedy said he was neither— he was a bachelor. The gent, also admitted that he had only been m the colony 18 months or so, and that his first introduction to Zoalandia's rocky shores was as a

DESERTER FROM A SHIP. Both accused denied the charge preferred against them, and when the Crown case had closed. Mr Harvey was about ''to address, the jury when Murdoch said he. wished to be sworn and make': a statement. ; . Counsel tol<l the ' Court that . there were times; when clients wouldn't take counsel's advice, an^d this was ; one of them. Murdoch -then "denied knowledge of the robbefy; he happened to be m the street' whfen he bJEjard Kennedy yelling out and he inquired what the trouble was. Tiistam Came along .it the same time, and : both denied havino- perpetrated the- deed, and Kennedy told the Constable that hfi ■' wasn't sure. Murdoch swore that he didn't know Tristam, and had nevor suen'him before. As for the char&r against him he was simply the victim of a dirty drunken be*ast. Lawyer Harve" pointed out that Triptamhad £11 odd m his pocket whe/> arrested, and wouldn't be likely -o knock a man down for £3 more. There was very doubtful evidence o' identity, and. a man like the prosecutor who came to town and made t beast of himself, deserved no consideration whatever. The ju^y- be,". lieved the prosecutor's^ yarn^.howy^ ever., and put the' TKJiir up. t^JudKf^ Chapman spoke most ;disres^;tfull^ to them. 'to these predatorv ■^owlersi who render the streets unsafe atey nights, and as it transpire^, that both had been convicted of [..minor offences previously he .condemned them to "pass- 18 months iri Cleary's i charge at Lyttelton.