A DUBIOUS DODGE.

NZ Truth, Issue 173, 10 October 1908, Page 7

A DUBIOUS DODGE.

THE BLOKES AND THE BARMAID^

Impersonating a 'Tec.

W'-.l:' ■■ ■• •■,-'■- - • :■■''-. ";■■■,•.- .'■', Bother About a Cheque.

';,.:' . '.V -' . -. f' ■ ti - , v 'v ■. '.» ' A:' ' :'- '■■ ■• . \ ''Tec. 1 Jack -•■' Cagsells is pretty well known to Wellingtbniansj but apparently Barbara ..Dixon, the, hebe ot the Opmmer-. cial Hotel, is unacquainted with ' the 'tec's- physiogamy, : judging from her cx r perience on P.ominion night, an- experience m which a bogus cheque : and two . thirsty persons - figured largely; -.The'.' drama,which would have done, credit tp Bland -Holt of melodrama, fame, was an admirably conceived ' play up to .'. a certain point,, when its brilliancy fell flat, and ; the appearance. npf. 'Tec. ■ Cassells proved to be the, 'preliminary to the grand cj^i-. max and fall of the .curtain. The two thirsty heroes— ,bold, bad men they were —Basil Gordon ■ McEi^ain an,d John Barrett, were presented to Magistrate Riddell\ a.* ■Lambton Quay Police- Court - on Monday iastj by Chief y'Tec. McGrath on a charge of having obtained £2 15s by means of a valueless cheque from the. previously mentioned Barbara Dixpn. Percy' Jackson appeared for the pair, s^nd McElwain at once pleaded guilty, ' hut Jphn Barrett, who was paltne.d off "to 'Barbara as " 'Tec. Jack Cassells," said riot >- guilty. Chief 'Tec. ■ McGrath ■ put McElwain m the witnessrbox, and tljat unworthy person, related' that he .had presented ithe cheque to Barfoara, but ahe declined to cash it as she did not know the „ wealthy. : man. However, Mac. went but, and I discovering Barrett proceeded again to interview Barbara, who had said she required someone to substantiate the cheque. Mac. , whispered'into the hebes jiretty pink ear, ''This is Detective Jack Cassells, he'll sufostansiate, my statement. Thenj turning to the bogus Sherlock .Holmes,' Avho/ Mac. averred, toad not heard the- conversation^ be said, "This is 'all right, isn't it, Jack ?■'?. and the fascinating name of Jack apparently did : the , trick, as

BARBARA. AT ONCE SHELLED OUT, and Jack and Mac. imbibed long beers until closing time, and -had a jolly good time m honor, of Joe - Ward's DominionBarrett's yarn,, when' he ha,d entered the pulpit and kissed the book after Qop. Clarke had said a prayer, was to the effect that Basil Gordon McElwain had assured him the cheque was genuine, and he did not ..know anything different until 'Tec. Jack Cassells said to him "comeahavea drink," or some other equally en-: dearing term, which eventually landed John 1 Barrett at Lambton-quay watchhouse. Barrett denied, all knowledge of McElwain's highly-developed' scheme to. pass him .oft as a thief catcher. He understood that the cheque was MqElwain's share of a good dividend from the races. Then Chief 'Tec. McGrath took a turn nt cross-exarumation, and, the .bogus 'tec," whilst showing 'that, he was not altogether unacquainted; with Court- procedure, ( did not like +he officer's ! inqiuis.itaveness ;' it was tqo personal he thought. . However, Barrett 'admitted that bis wife was a prostitute now living a modest, virtuous life up the hill iur the,' Terrace Gaol. He Wither admitted that he had been convicted of stealing on- the West Coast, but indignantly denied that he had previously posed as 'Tec. Cassells for the purpose- of ; . ' ' BLACKMAILING IJNVIRTUOtJS ■■■;, .'\. LASSIES / who prowl by night m the byways of this holy city, looking out for unvirtupus men, I • "'■' Magistrate :;Riddtll 'discharged Barrett, but convicted McElwain and inflicted a fine of 'five quid, m default one month's retirement' from the vulgar gaze. ' He also ordered the money (£2 15s) to be refunded. ' " . r ' '