A WORRIED BATTLER.

NZ Truth, Issue 158, 27 June 1908, Page 6

A WORRIED BATTLER.

Given One More Chance.

Laura May Chaffey is a Cbristchureh lady m reduced circumstances, who has been amongst the dregs of life's beer glass, so to speak, for a considerable period of time. Her morals are as elastic as a politician's conscience and her scruples as unreliable as. a debt collector's income. . Laura May is always an. interesting figure m tee dock, for no matter bow low she may* have fallen from her previous shabby ' genteel existence she never descends to the herd m the matter ,of speech, but says "naow" for "now" and "raight" for "right" m a cultivated, manner, just like a person of the uppah class. Charged with being an idle and disorderly person m Christchurch S.M. Court and with having no lawful visible means of support, she" pleaded not guilty m a voice charged with indignation. "I bave some money m the Post Office Savings Bank," she said, haughtily, tossing her elderly ringlets. "I was m work," she added, *'but owing to ill-health I was compelled Jo'resaign my position." . Cop. Regan, who seems to be on the beat that harbors persons like Laura May, stated that during the last two months, when the lady came out of gaol, she had been loitering about the >streets and consorting with drunken . men for purposes of evil. She was always hanging about the railway station, to the annoyance of the officials, and was as big a nuisance as a lenioty flue. ' When the ., . SHADES OF NIGHT HAD FALLEN and the river mists hung around the city like a mammoth winding ' sheet, Laura did wander down Manchester-Street, also St. Asaph and' Tiuam streets, with people m itrousers and conversed . about the higher criticism m Religious matters some 1 thing that wafs not good to eat. The constable, who is young, viewed these excursions with pain, and feared the worst. Laura May : . You say you have seen me late at night with men ?— I do. Who with ?— There were » so many I really couldn't say. ' L.M. : I went down to the railway station to see my sister. . * His Worship : You should ask questions. (To the officer) : How often did you see her at the railway^ station ?— She is there nearly every daj. • - ■ l Laura: Was I doing any harm, there 7 —You were making yourself a nuisance m .the waiting-room. ; ' , Laura (with dignity) : I was 'unaware 1 was - creating apy nuisance by being m, the room. . <* ■ , x Constable Matthews, corroborated Laura May's reproachful conduct. •■■.'. .-:■■ Laura: Have you seen mNo anything wrong ?— I. have seen ypu going round the street with drunken people after 9 at Bicht, ■ - Bay I not. speak, to anyone m the street after 9 at 'night,. it they are my friends and are respectably ? Magistrate Day : Have you seen her with vagrant, people ?—^hey were a low class of people. - 'Tec. Gibson, said her had seen, the lady on the streets within- the past few weeks and she was doing no work. She appeared to be m a bad state, and could hardly walk. • Laura : I was discharged from the hospital suffering from poverty of the^blood. (To Gibson) : Have you seen me- doinganything I should not. do ?— Walking on the streets. Laura : I WAS LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT. Questioned further by the Bench, the ancient battler said she had about fifteen shillings left inu the Post Office. All tlie cash she had was. honestly given" to her by kind persons whose names ; she wouldj write down if, his Worship, desired. She" had been working for Mrs Matheson at St. Albans, but, retired owing to illhealth. She put m a letter from somebody which , the Magistrate characterised as valueless as a reference. .~ . • Sergeant Johnston said the woman, had spoken at the station about some money m the Post Office, but when questioned about her bank-book said she \had lost it. \ . % His Worship : I will have to convict you. , Laura (dejectedly) : I am w/lling to work. I have done a day's washing before—or any other sort of * work. (Weeps > copiously.) His Worship : I will enter a conviction and discharge you this time. Laura (transformed) : Oh, thank you, sir. > ■ ' s < •