LISTER'S LITTLE LARK.

NZ Truth, Issue 112, 10 August 1907, Page 5

LISTER'S LITTLE LARK.

THE "DOUBLE" HIS UNDOING. The Price of Victory. Worse Things Happened at Wanganui, The dual victory of Webb over Towns and the All Blacks over Australia was responsible for! a mild recrudescence of the delirious joy that took charge of the populace when Baldy Powell marched out of Mafeking and Ladysmith refused^ to admit the obstreperous Boer. Andrewi William Lister, a steward on the Tutanekai, who togs up like a bank clerk, found the success of the Maorilanders particularly exhilarating and added to his exuberance by partaking of various beverages. It was probably the unusualness of the indulgence that was responsible for Lister's abnormal behavious subsequently. At anyrate, when copper Buttars saw two hilarious individuals coming down the street late at night, one grasping something large and white, he crossed the road near the corner of Featherston and Bran-don-streets to institute an inquiry. The pair quickened their footsteps, the bobby did likewise, the young men ran, and the peeler also put on a spurt. One individual darted down towards the Glasgow wharf, and the other, still hugging the white article, went up Waring Tay-lor-street. This proved to be Lister, and the thing he was carrying was a large blind used to cover the window of the Economic. The irresponsible young man couldn't account satisfactorily for his possession of the cloth, though the constable says Lister confessed taking it "for a lark." Mr Wilford, for the Defence, said it was all on account of Webb's victory and the success of the All Blacks, which had encouraged CELEBRATION OF A LIQUID OHARACTER. Finally Lister recollected Hearing sounds of convivality coming from the top storey of a building, and, ascending, joined m the singing, with gusto. He had a distinct recollection of helping to yell "Rule Britannia" before the gathering broke up, and subsequently observing the window curtain, which was loose at one corner, lie got hold of an end of it, and waved it joyously to the strains of "Rule Britannia," and it came down. When the young fellows were chased, they had no idea it was because of theft, but because of the disturbance they had kicked up. Lister had never been before the Court m his life before, and counsel had instructed him to plead guilty, m order that the whole of the facts might be placed before the Court. Fie had certainly made a fool of himself. "I have been young myself," remarked counsel with gravity, "and I know there are times when a man does overstep the mark ; but his pen.alty is paid m the morning." To a young fellow like this, wholly unused to appearing m Court, the fact that he had been locked up would be sufficient punishment. Lister had been a little abnormal on Saturday night. but counsel ventured to say that worse things than this were dove m Wanganui on that evening. The orderly : Silence. Taking these facts into consideration. Magistrate . Riddell convicted Lister and ordered him +o come up ! for sentence when called upon.