BOWDEN THE BULLY.

NZ Truth, Issue 112, 10 August 1907, Page 4

BOWDEN THE BULLY.

PERSECUTING A PUBLICAN. Strange Proceedings at Bulls. Magistrate Stanford's Sensible Decision. Once a publican is snouted by the police, it inevitably follows that "Bun g " gets a pretty rotten time of it, and if he docs not m the long run lose his license, because the police give him and the house a bad character, it is not that the police have not done all m their power to settle him., Hotel-keepers everywhere m New Zealand will bear testimony to the fact that it pays to keep m with the po-» lice ; and if there is a falling outwell, Bung falls m. Up at Bulls lately there has been an instance oi the extent to which some poli9emen wilt go to shut Bung up, and m a recent x case heard before Mr Stanford, S.M. ?1 that Magistrate showed his appreciation of the conduct. of the police con-^ cemed by expressing regret that tha police had taken proceedings at all* This was the case where Frank Rhodes (liceHsee of the Rangdtikei Hotel,. Bulls) was proceeded against on the' information of one Sergeant Bowden, for permitting > ROWDYISM ON HIS LICENSED PREMISES. Now, m this said prosecution, this blustering bully of a Bowden showed; a very petty and puerile character. It, anything, the prosecution was actuated "by something more than a, sense of duty, because when he found out that he did not have a possible hope of securing a conviction against Rhodes, he turned around like an infurfated bull-ant and accused the various witnesses of having rounded: cti him. This is a common ! practice with the police. They show too personal an interest m the proceedings, and, instead of promptly admittingthat they cannot succeed, and withdrawing the case, they make all sorts of vile assertions which are unwarranted, and for anybody else but a policeman would earn stern reprobation from the Bench. THe quarreling or rov.d/ism set forth by Bo y wden te have occurred m Rhodes Hotel, consisted m a little horso-play by the well-known jockey, Charlie Jenkins, 8»'l a man named Young. Of course, it was only a little bit of fun. Jenkins, it seems, on June 22, tickled Young on the stomach with a stick, which Young did not resent very forcibly. The joking, which commenced m the bar-room, was afterwards continued m the billiard-room, and unfortunately, for Jenkins, he accidentally tripped Young, who was cutting some tobacco and had ?. knife m his hand,, the result beins that ho fell on the jockey, and the knife lacerated thfi fleshy part of his: arm. It was an accident, pure and simple, and this lobby Bowden. when practically THROWING UP THE SPONGE, said he was told by Young that it was an accident, yet he persisted . m bringing on the case, because he alleged ho had strong and conclusive evidence of rowdyism. As pointed out by Lawyer Cohen, who appeared for the defence, none of this alleged evidence was forthcoming, and Magistrate Stanford properly enough dismissed the case, and added that he wished to distinctly say that it was a great pity that" the information had been laid at all. It was quite evident that there was no quarrelsome conduct. During the hearing of the case. Mr Cohen, who represented Rhodes, declared that Sergeant 3owden was persecuting Rhodes. Now, to "Truth" it looks \verv much like persecution, and this bouncing bully Bowden,. who threatens people to say things outside of Court, when he will deal with them, is just the sort of cuss "Truth" takes delight m pulling to pieces. We know plenty of the , Bowdsn type. Dressed m blue, with a few stripes on their arm, Ih=y imagine they run a town, and to resent their nsrsecution is regarded rs lese majeste. Anyhow, the fact that Magistrate Stanford so promptly dismissed the case and regretted the fact that Bowden should have been so unwise as to iav the information, ought to convince the bully tliat m Bulls he Cannot do just as he pleases. Moreover,. "Truth" draws the attention of Commissioner Dinnie to this' truculent trap's tyrannical tricks at Bulls, and wishes to know if this is not the sort of. conduct Dinnie wants his boys m blue to persist m. Of course," "Truth" is aware of the fact that people say. 'Tin. nobody takes any notice of 'Truth,' " but notwithstandino; that. Bowden is here given ? word of warning. Tf Mine Host Rhodes conducts his hotel within legitimate bounds, he is ENTITLED TO EVERY PROTECTION. Rhodes might not be the particular pal of J. J. North and Dr. G-ibb, at anyrate, he is as good as they ?re any day- That, however, is beside the mark. That an hotel-keeper, simnly because he keeps an hotel, should be a target for the machinations of a bully like Bowden is something thatcannot be tolerated, and the sooner Bowden is taught to let-up., the better it will be for all.