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NZ Truth, Issue 117, 14 September 1907, Page 8

A Hebrew merchant was discovered m a restaurant the other day delightfully eating roast pork and apple sauce. "I say old fellow," said the friend who made the discovery, "didn't your law-giver prohibit the flesh of swine ?" "Well, you see. Moses was a shepherd : he wanted to sell the mutton," was the businesslike reply. j Magistrate Widowson has given an extraordinary ruling atDunedin. An elderly bibulous person named Margaret Coittrell, who has a long list of previous convictions, was charged with -boing; an haibitual drunkard, there being five convictions against her within ihe past six months. The Magistrate ' "She has just served a .sentence as an -ha'lyitual drunkard. She will start with a clean sheet now." Sub-Inspector Norwood' "At that rate the greater the offence the less ihe punishment." The S.M. : "I am satisfied ■ that you cannot charge this accused with being an habitual drunkard. T haVe altered th? charge to one of being found drunk m a public place." The Sub : "Then she does not come under. the Habitual Druiiikiuils' Act." The Beak : "Certainly, but, it is a principle of law that you cannot charge a person twice ovru- with (he same offence." Fined 10s, or 'IS hours". Henceforth, then, it will bu consoling to the sod-dene-d El-he's and tbe drinky Maimrets who haunt the police courts that once they arc sentoncpd they arc clear hie off :i bleary and blemished character and arc 'bt i in.<r washed whiter than snow, so to speak. tr the casual burglar knew lint his previous convictions Avo-uliin't count on future occasions, there wouhl be joy m [h • crooked ways-, '