"KISH THE BUKE!"

NZ Truth, Issue 172, 3 October 1908, Page 6

"KISH THE BUKE!"

JAY PAY JUSTICE AT- PATEA.

Bumptious Bobby O'Brien.

What Happened to Parker.

A bumptious constable named O'Brien, stationed at Patea, last week made himself not only officious m the Patea • S.M. Court, but also obnoxious, and his overbearing conduct should be taken notice of by thd Minister of Justice. During the hearing of a charge of drunkenness against a woman named Helen Johnston before two Justices of the Peace, C. E. Homer and C. A. Larcombe, a man named William Parker was called on to give evidence. Parker had the previous day objected to taking the oath by kissing the bible, and some trouble was experienced on' that occasion. Parker objected to kissing the book on the grounds that he did not know what sort of person might

HAVE SLOBBERED OVER IT • before him, but, however, after finding a clean page, he kissed the book as requested. ' Here the matter might have been allowed to ress as having once taken the oath m the case, there is. no necessity to re-swear a man a second time m the same case, as the oath taken hefore giving evidence is binding so long as the witness .is required to give evidence. But Constable O'Brien, who is. apparently a bumptious and ignorant bully, endeavored to tyrannise over Parker when the case was resumed the following day. Not only did the overbearing copman try to browbeat Parker, but he also tried and succeeded m "inducing .the occupants of the Bench to uphold his bumptiousness.. Parker protested that he had conscientious objections to taking the oath as he DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE. He further explained that he had kissed the book the ' previous day because he was ignorant of Court procedure and thought he had to do so. This explanation should have sufficed for the Bench, and the two Justices of the Peace should have permitted Parker's request to be allowed to make ap affirmation. . But apparently the Bench and the officious copman were ignorant of Court procedure, and the ignoramuses -on the Bench countenanced the copper's impudence and . arrogant show of authority. It is not for a common constable to dictate to a Bench of ' J ustices of 'the ' Peace as to how they shall carry on the proceedings of a case, but Copman O'Brien actually had the effrontery to suggest that the Bench should commit Parker

FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT until 2 o'clock', and. the Bench, to its disgrace, had Parker locked up. On. the Court resuming Parker was informed that if he expressed contrition for his contempt of Court and apologised to the Bench, the matter would be concluded. Parker said, that if he had insulted tlje Court he would be moist happy to apologise, but he protested that he had not been guilty of contempt of court. The Bench still endeavored to tyrannise over Parker . by telling him that they could again send him to prison for contempt. After further protests Parker apologised, and. the .'case ended, so far as the Court was concerned. But "Truth" desires, to say that Messrs E. C. Homer and C. A; Larcombe have themselves made a traves-, ty , of the Court proceedings and allowed themselves to be used for the purpose of casting a stigma on Parker at the instigation of, and for the mere self-glorinca-•eion«of ■ •■■■ • ■•■

A COMMON IGNORANT CONSTABLE, as. this O'Brien bloke appears to be. When Parker protested that he did not believe m the Bible" and had kissed it . the previous day under a misapprehension, the duty of the Jay^Pees was plain. Instead of condemning him^ to a spell m the cells at the behest of an over officious slop they should . have acceded to Parker's request "to bje allowed to affirm and ' have called upon him to give the whole of his evidence again. But because of the crass ignorance of Policeman 'O'Brien they ordered a man who was standing up m defence of His just rights to be , taken m charge for alleged contempt of Court. Constable O'Brien knew, or if he did not he ought to be' taught, that the Court rules provide for an affirmation being taken, and m any case he had no right to

BLUFF AN AMATEUR BEN-CH as to its duty. There certainly was contempt of Court, and it was committed not only by O'Brien, but the Justices themselves, m turning a Court of Justice into a circus. "Truth" is a law-abid-ing, respectful ,(if it isn't respectable), journal, and it always regards Court procedure with 'the consideration it deserves, but when it is found that N a Mulling, bumptious bobby like O'Brien' and Justices of the Peace as the pair named, are guilty of such pranks as were played at Patea at the expense of Parker, it doesn't hesitate to show its contempt. JNow, if the Minister of Justice., is alive to his responsibilities O'Brien and the Justices will be' given more than a brutal hint that such unseemly conduct m future will " not be tolerated. Unfortunately Parker has no remedy, but the publication of these facts are warranted to inculcate a moral.

Croquet is said, on good authority, to embitter the disposition and sour the temper of any but an an^el. WhicH, no doubt, 'accounts for so many wielders of the mallet m Wellington having acquired such sour looks. . , Billiardists and would-be billiardists are reminded that the new Victoria Billiard Parlor, opposite the Public Library and Working Men's Club, is now open. Messrs Read and Murray are the proprietors. The saloon contains five new Alcock and one Arc Oval Tables and everything is new and up-to-date. Light nbn-alcotiol-ic refreshments are also to be procured. The wowsers have given every centre but Wellington a go about Sunday concerts. Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland municipalities have been pestered by the parsonieal push, who pray to councillors to prohibit bands and musicians performing on the Sawbath day. Dunedin and Christchurch Councils liave decreed Sunday to he a day v of desolation and misery. The Auckland Council, however, recently by the barest of majorities, practically told the wowsers to go to hell. Now, m Wellington, the Oouncil of Churches is stirring and the next move will be to block musicians performing anywhere on the Loard's Day. If last Sunday evening's concert m the Opera House is to be taken as a criterion, then such concerts ought to 'o.e abolished. Anyhow, the wowsers are moving, and if Wellington's City Council is the democratic body it is alleged to be, the C. and C. will get a hot reply. Mayor Hislop must not kow-tow to the parsonieal push, otherwise there will be a tale told at the ballot box.