A LIGHTHOUSE!

NZ Truth, Issue 160, 11 July 1908, Page 5

A LIGHTHOUSE !

Coogan And His Sunday Snifters.

A Method m His Madness.

The peripatetic sly-grogger has hitherto been unknown m Christchurch, although he fills a page m the police records of other centres. Peripa^pticism is the philosophy of the late Mr Aristotle^ a defunct , Greek gentleman who used to walk around "giving the chat", like a modern racecourse guessef. The, philosophy ol Thomas Coogan, of Ohristclrurch; was contained m a whisky bottle, and , it was spirituous to the taste and smell ; more^ over, he got a shilling a nip for it m the public street on the ijlabbath, and distributed.: his philosophy so openly that the police got to hear of it and nabbed .the peripatetist. Coogan pleaded guilty m the S.M. Gourt, finding discretion the better part , of ..valor, and .Sttb-Inspectqr Dwyef narrated the facts. Magistrate Bishop was surprised at the nature of the charge, and asked if Coogan was m Iris right senses to tto.-su.ch/-a thing. The Sub? Inspector was not so much astonished as six empty bottles were found inside Coogan's gate m St. Asaph-street, indicating an extensive; business and method m A PROFITABLE KIND OF MADNJBSS. Coogan swore he was not bartering the swanky as a regular thing. The police informer who was responsible for his downfall saw, him take a nip ,out of the bottle; and asked for a swig, which was given. The informer came along later and confessed to rehewed dryness, whereupon the whisky bottle was again, upended. The police pimp put, m an appearance on a third occasion,: and mentioned , a mate of his who had a brutal mouth on him. This was. coming it too strong, but as a great . favor Coogan gave him some mountain dew m.a lemonade bottle m exchange for a shilling, and that was the only sale effected. Coogan wasn't m a position to supply shicker to . the universe for nothing. "He pleaded- that it was his first offence, but. assumed a stunned expression when his Worship produced "a record showing (that Coogan had been ..thrice convicted m Perth for different offences and twice m Christchurch for .theft. A fine of £25 -was imposed, and no time was given m which to pay it. . '