BOOB-HATCH BLUNDERING

NZ Truth, Issue 81, 5 January 1907, Page 5

8008-HATCH BLUNDERING

THICK-HEADED, HARDHEARTED OFFICIALS. An Oft- Recurring Scandal. A few nights ago a well-known citizen, suddenly remembering that it was the festive season, hastened forth after dinner to take a hand. He'accomplished his object to some purpose, for the next heard of him he had become so frisky with good cheer, that, meeting a cove against whom he "had an old-standing grudge, he proceeded to ladle out stoush forthwith. ' Incidentally a policeman happened along:, and the festive one became confuse-dlv aware that his destination want the Lambton-ctuay boobinc; depot: By the time he had reached the melanr-holy pile the celebrator had sobered itp something considerable, for this was his first experience of the kind, and he didn't like . it. Anyway, when led into the booking department he was clear enough m his top story to ask if he might BAIL HIMSELF OUT, or if he could ring up one of his multiferous friends to perform the office for him. But the lordly copman who acts as salaried reception committee for those who, fall by the wayside, haughtily refused the request. Whereupon the now contrite festive one bowed to the inevitable, and asked but one small favor. Could the policeman kindly ring up his people The was sober enough to give the telephone number) and allay their anxiety by saying he wa& detained and would be home m the morning. No, the high dignitary wh 0 slings ink at Lambton-quay booby hatch would not do that either, so instead of one troubled head that -night there were several, for bis friends naturally were anxious. Of course, THE PIOUS POLICEMAN who refused to do the man m distress this 'good turn has never, never takea a glass stoo much at holiday time himself. ' Still it can be imagined, had the "criminal" been a Jay Pay, or a municipal magnate (and men higher on the social scale even than these have been known to get hilarious ere now), how eagerly the bluebottle would have jolted toward the 'phone and rung up someone to bail out the high and niiphtv one, instanter. Still, every cloud has a silver lining. The festive one herein mentioned, when kennelled up was possessed of nearly £60, and, barring a fiver deducted next morning at the suggestion of the magistrate, he left the precincts of the police palace with this large sum intact. Which, m the light of recent events, is something to .be •grateful for, anyway. But this is not the first time "Truth" has had to allude to the brutal churlishness of the lock-up men on this question of telephoning to friends of detinues who are highly respectable and have merely "slipped a coc." The narty above referred to would have been perfectly safe, and his money, too, m the hands of any friend he called to his rescue per 'phone. * ■ • .