A SOFT, SWEET, SNAP.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 3 November 1906, Page 3

A SOFT, SWEET, SNAP.

A FOOLISH FLAT FROM FEATHERSTONE.

Struck an Oasis m the Desert.

A Regulation St. 'Anthony.

"Too green to burn" is about the best description to apply to Thomas Hanlon, a station hand, who came down from Peatherstone to do Wellington, but was instead badly done himself. Thomas seems to be a too easy-going chap to be allowed out without his nurse, and as he came down with a cheque to smash-up, he proved a soft prey for those ever on the lookout for such sweet snaps. ■ Tommy's troubles m, the city, as told by ,him at the Wellington Police Court on Friday week and Monday last, mark him as the biggest chump that was ever lost m a wicked city. He is a tenderfoot from the tenderloin, and as such he ought to be exhibited down at Christchurch .Zibishun, where he would prove a big draw. "Remarkable" is not the word for Hanlon 's experiences, but he has sworn to them and it will be for a jury to iav during this month whether two men named William Kay and John Davey, alias Higgihg, stole £31 from Hanlon. On Saturday night, October 20, THE GREENHORN CAME TO TOWN from Featherstone, where he had cashed a cheque for £36. From the moment he stepped into the city, he started out to quench a thirst that he'd been carrying for a year and that only some Wellington snifteriest can satisfy. Instead of seeking some deo&nt, clean, hoarding establishment, Hanlon, whose greenness is extraordinary, preferred to booze, and as closing time came hideously soon, he was bundled out, loaded to the tonsils. Theh, it seems, that the flat from Featherstone thought df diggings, but beinsr a shy lad, he could not even pluck up courage to ask for them and though he asked several policemen to nut him on the right ■ track, he evidently got bushed/ which ; was not creditable to the policemen. He wandered round Wellington till four o'clock on Sunday morning, when he came to ■■':"■.

AN OASIS IN THE DESERT m Willis-street. This was a cofiTeeetall, over which the accused Kay presided. Tommy asked for coffee, and got it, but with whisky m it. The flat took to coffee and whisky as a duckling takes to water, and for two solid hours the fountain flowed freely. Everybody who got within coo-ec of that coffee-stall had to become the pruests of the station hand, who was smashing his cheque. To Kay Hanlon unburdened himself of bis troubles ; and Kay took kindly to the weary wayfarer and arranged for Hani on to have a doss m a chaff-shed m a blacksmith's yard near the Library, where Kay's coffee-stall was moored during the day. Seeing that Hanlon had a roll of notes, Kay asked to be allowed to mind it, assuring bis protege that he was an honest man like himselfi Hanlon demurr red at flifst, and; dQ»tted-that^ there were\ people m ( Wellington wicked enough' to rob him ; but 'Kay said that' one never knew what would happen, anil' sb Hanlon handed over; and when lie had a, sleep Kay gave him back his boodle. After that Kay several times mentioned to Hanlon that he knew where there was a nice girl ; but Tommy was for a while a regu-^ lation St. Anthony, but he subsequently succumbed, when Kay pressed him ■

v TO VISIT THIS NICE GIRL, and the spring air got ih its fine work. Davey had come on the scene by this time, and 'Tommy told Lawyers Herdman and Toogood, who appeared for the defence, that he took an instinctive dislike to Davey ; theirewas something about him that he did not appreciate. In Kay, however, he placed implicit trust and confidence, and assented to go and see the girl, so long as Kay kept with him. Kay stuck like a pal, aiid they got up to the girl's place m Howe's-lane, wliich is off Dixon-street. This girl, Julia Fowler, lives with Davey, and when the trio arrived at the house, she began to make improper overtures to, Tommy, who expressed the opinion that he did not care for her style of love-making. He was, however, m a generous mood, and gave her five shillings (the girl said it was seven shillings), and as she seemed so grateful for his gift, he presented her with a pound, accompanying it with the seasonable advice not to let the men take it. His reason for the gift, he (told Mr Herdman, was that he * thought the gixl was under the influence of the two men, and needed a bit of money to enable her to feel independent. After a brief stay at the girl's place, where \ Hanlon had more whisky (he had : HAD ABOUT FORTY DRINKS by this time) he left the house. According to his tale, he walked down the street, Kay following him and bumping up against him; and then Tommy tumbled that his top-coat pocket was lighter than it had been. He straight away accused Kay ; of ro being him-. Davev then approached, . and both Kay and Davey fumbled with their hands around the easy mark, and as Hanlon still harped about his purse and money, Davey threw the former oh the ground. Hanlon did not trouble to pick it up, being satisfied that it did not contain a cent ; but began to search for a policeman. Eventually he got to the Manners-street Station, but no one was there (as usual). Subsequently he interviewed Kay, who ' denied all knowledge of his money, and the poor wandering one m due time found the Lambton-quay Police Station, where he found sympathetic auditors. 'Tecs Cassells and Connolly got on the job, and Kay was roped m on a charge of theft and m addition was charged with ]sly~gro& selling, on which he was 'fined £20 or a month. Davey was next gathered m, and his bank book , showed that deposits had been made on October 22 and 23, the explanation hexnz a win at the races. Kay's .bank-book showed a deposit of £3 !1O«. Other evidence was forthcoming jto the effect that Davey bad purchfls> 'ttl a ralr of !<wl .\m<A'.- iutd slipjierv for his ."-irl, .Mm' Inw! fn-i'-ml a £10 noii: m t'uuij<-Jit. I.V<h the tiWUSed i were 'ftowmltted fur U'iai,