MEASLY MQUREM.

NZ Truth, Issue 79, 22 December 1906, Page 5

MEASLY MQUREM.

BLUDGER CONLON BOOBED. Whines for a "Charnst" to Go to Work And His Worships Graciously Accedes and Gives the Beast a Six Mouths' Steady Job. More than once lately Magistrate McArthur has expressed the deep regret he felt at being powerless to deal more effectually with that foul cxecresence on the face of the earth known as the bludger. At the limit he can only give him three months for being a bludger, but as the police generally succeed m prefixing ah' additional oharge of being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient means of support to that of associating with prostitutes, the animal goes off to do a six month's stretch, and his wretched female victim has a corresponding spell of comparative peace and security from personal violence. Now that the Habitual Criminals Act is Law, and as bludger s, unless they are "sports" who sport on women's foul earnings, are mostly of the criminal class, it is to be trusted that Magistrate McArthur will .not waste any time m sending the bludger who has qualified up before a Supreme Court Judge tb be declared a fit subject for < AN INDETERMINATE'SENTENCE. One of the vilest specimens of his wretched class, named James" Conlon, Was one day last week before Dr. McArthur charged' with having insufficient lawful means of support, and with being an idle and disorderly person habitually Consorting with prostitutes. Conlon, like most of his class, is a big, hulking brute, whq bounced like a ball into the dock and all the while the story of his wretched life was being Unfolded he maintained a brutish insolence, but cur-like when he saw his finish, piteously whined for mercy : and mercy he got because of the impotence of the Law to give him his just deserts. " Before the dirty dog was placed m the dock, the Magistrate was called upon to deal with Conlon's woman, a dirty, depraved, fallen female named Malrtha McManus, who pleaded guilty to a charge of beiner tm idle and, disorderly person with insufficient means, of support. She had a l°na: list of convictions recorded against her, and the Magistrate, m giving her three months' imprisonment, warned her of her liability to be declared an habitual criminal. i

Having dealt with 5/Tartha who, on more than one occasion, thoueb it was not stated iii evidence, had been martyred by noble Jim Conlon, that •

COWARDLY HUNK OF HUMANITY went into the dock, and though he loudly protested that he had suffici-t-tti means of support admitted that he was guilty of associating with prostitutes,' though witli the qualifying clause that he kept a woman. Subsequent evidence showed that the position was really . the reverse.

Constable Stewart, m his evidence, stated that Conlon had been under his observation for three months. He was always m the company of the unfortunate -woman just convicted. She earned; he? living by street solicitation. ' If she earned no money he would ill-treat her and force her to ro on to the streets.. He was one of the worst characters mi n town. Occasionally he worked a day on the wharves ; but was generally tb be found m a prostitute,-frequented house m Frederick-street.

Constable McKelvie's evidence was not only corroborative but stronger than that given, -by Stewart. McKelvie had had, him under notice for some time and told what he had observed! Conlon was a beer-bummer and night and day he (McKeMe) saw the woman cadging money from drunken men, and then the pair would go off for drink. McKelvie said he saw the woman cadge a shilling from a man m Tory-street. '.'She then went off with this man Conlon,". said the officer. v Dr. McArthur : What man,? You don't call him a man, surely to goodness ! McKelvie : Well, no. Being directed to distinguish Conlon as the accused, McKelvie went on to say that he had seen the woman soliciting on one side of the street while .Conlon was either on the other side or closely behind her. He (Conlon). was often drunk a t mid-day and the witness had been called on to throw the beautiful pair out of the Clydequav Hotel. This evidence was supplemented by that given by Detective Cassells, who said that Conlon was the associate of thieves and he had on one occasion warned him to be careful of the company he kept. He lived on the proceeds of prostitution, never" worked, m fact preferred to be kept by the woman rather than turn his hand to an honest livelihood.

. When asked if he had anything to say Conlon squirmed and squealed like a pig. **I ask for one chance, do give me just one chance, and I'll go into the country and get work,", he .niteously pleaded. "Give me another chance, I'll go into the country by Christmas," he implored.

"Will you," ' said the Magistrate, "I'll send you into the country for Christmas, and I'll give you work. You will have three months' imprisonment on each charge and they will lie cumulative. The only thing I am sorry for is that I cannot give you more." •

Conlon was then advised that his convictions were mounting up and if he did not mend his ways after being released from gaol he would be dealt with as an habitual criminal.