SAUER-KRAUT SAM.

NZ Truth, Issue 198, 3 April 1909, Page 5

SAUER-KRAUT SAM.

KRAFTY KRAETZER'S KUSSEDNESS. Did He Have a "Derry" on Kirwan? Court Proceedings at Christchurch.

Teutonic - Hebrew Kraetzer, el:&s "Saver-kraut Sam," has had an astonishingly long spell fro:n appearing m the Courts of Christchurch, where his j peering and insufferable demeanor and violent conduct culminated m sundry criminal actions when he first arrived .from abroad. In the witness-box the racecourse 'tec's manner is a crjss i-ctween that of a cringing money-lender end a robbed bottle-oh man, who suspects m every question a ruse to trap him. if that is his habitual attitude to all and sundry, it isn't surprising that the Kaiser's s"ubject had trouble with Frank Kirwan. This paper doesn't hold a brief for Kinvan, and doesn't know or care whether he is a race course parasite or , a poor p%itcr who has done m his inheritance backing stiff 'uns, but* his character seems to have been good enough to merit the bestowal of an amateur riding and driving license, and as SAUER KRAUT SAM IS THE ALMIGHT.Y, and is the only judge. of whom he should put off a course, it's just as well that the matter has been ventilated. Kirwan was charged, m the S.M. Court with using insulting behavior to the German Jew m a railway carriage on the way back from Ashburton races on February 18. Kirwan instituted , a cross action, charging Kraetzer with conduct calculated to provoke a breach of the peace at the' railway station on the following morning, when the private 'tec. remarked fiercely, "Vtt break your blanky jaw if you don't go aWay." Lawyer Jini Cassidy, who represented Kraetzer, remarked that Kitwan's indiscretion took place m the train on the first day of the Ashburton races, at which meeting the young man had "been ordered off the course by his enemy. Bully Sam mentioned m evidence that Kirwan was extremely, abusive m the presence of 'Tec. Eade and others, when ordered tq quit the course. He didn't go by the way- Returning m the train, S.K. Sam took a seat peaceably m one compartment, and Kirwan, entering with another man, stood and glared .at him. "A man ought to be murdered, for speaking to you, you blanky cow," he said to Samivel, who told him to go away. Afterwards Kraetzer again had trouble with Kirwan at the New Brighton trots. Mr Alpers (for the defence) : You say he is a bookmaker ?— Hfe is a ' reputed bookmaker. ' ; Have you ever .seen him at it ?— No. Did you say you would clutch him by the scruff of the blanky neck ?— No ; nothing of the sort. ■ : What right had you to put him off the course ?— I had good grounds. • YOUR. OWN PERSONAL SPITE, I suppose ?— lt was not. Private 'Tec. Frank Connell corroborated. When Kirwan came into the carriage he was looking for the "school," and asked where it was. He was sure that Kirwan made use of the word "blanky." Learned Alpers asked if it wasn't a word that was commonly used m railway carriages, and Connell said "blauky" was heard, but not as a general rule. Counsel remarked that it was a common colonial expression. Magistrate Day : It didn't originate m New Zealand. Mr Cassidy (sarcastically),: It means "my lady." Mr Alpers pointed out that according to his learned friend, "blanky" had quite a respectable derivation. Mr Cassidy : It's not a term of en-, dearment, anyhow. Kirwan, speaking m his own defence, stated that he was a reputable tobacconist and had formerly been a produce merchant. He complained of the brutal conduct of Kraetzer, who came up to him at Ashburton and warned him off the course. "If ever I catch you on a race course again,' 1 he said, "I'll get you by the blanky neck and run you off the course." Kirwan said he was no bookmaker, and had never laid 'em. Unfortunately, his . predecessor m the tobacco biz. had the reputation of taking silver, but, so far as Kirwan was concerned it was part of his lease agreement not to touch tthe unclean thing. He denied the blanky m the railway carriage where he asked Kraetzer for an explanation of his conduct. What he did say was, "A man ought to be murdered for being m the same carriage with you, let alone speak to you." He went on to the New Brightan course to bring the matter to a head and allow Kraetzer an opportunity to prove him to be a bookmaker or otherwise. Cross-examined by Mr Cassidy, Kirwan said that' m a' civil action on the previous day he had acknowledged to Magistrate Bishop ,/ THAT HE HAD TOLD AN UNTRUTH when he represented to money-lender Kestevan that the whole of certam furniture covered by, a bill-6f-sale belonged to him. Kirwan admitted that he had been fined 40s for assaulting the police last year ; • also £5 for assaulting a tram guard and using abusive language You seem to have . a dislike to every person m .authority ?— No. Didn't you have a fight with Ross on I the /steamer ?— I dropped a sovereign and stooped down to pick it up. And Ross said it was his 7— He claimed it. ■' ' And you had a fight ?— Yes. The cross-action against Kraetzer was then proceeded -with, the evidence of Kirwan and a tram conductor being that Kraetzer was talking to Hughie Grainger,., bookie and others at the Christchurch .-.•• railway; . station, rwhen Kirwan came up with a lady. Kixwah said, "Good morning, Hughie," and Grainger replied. "Good morning, Frank." Kirwan then looked at Kraetzer, who said, •imperiously, "Go away." Kirwan asked "Do you refer to me?" Kraetzer replied, "Yes, go away !" Kirwan wanted to know what right the German had to order him off a railway platform, and refused to go.; "I'll break your blanky jaw if you don't go away," yelled the exasperated 'tec, who struck a Jack Johnson attitude and would have carried out his threat had not his friends prevented him. Kirwan explained that when ordered off the Ashburton course he complained 'to the stewards, and was visiting the course on the 19th at the invitation of the club's president. Magistrate Day asked why Kirwan had waited four weeks before taking proceed- ■ ings, and tile tobacconist said HE WAS TAKING OTHER PROCEEDINGS and didn't want to have any trouble with the man. ' Mr Cassidy suggested that the charge was made merely because Kraetzer had proceeded against Kirwan. Mr Alpers said the charge was drawn up m his omcc before Kraetzer's summons was issued. His Worship didn't deem it necessary to call on Mr Cassidy and dismissed the charge against Kraetzer. Kirwan was fined 10s and costs on the blanky information.