DID CHITTY CHEAT?

NZ Truth, Issue 216, 14 August 1909, Page 6

DID CHITTY CHEAT?

It Comes Off Sometimes!

The practice of dodging the payment of a tram fare comes off sometimes, and other times the dodger falls m. More often than not, however, the dodger saves his copper, or his tray-bit, or his tanner, and hoards it up to buy a Dreadnought with, or to spend it m beer. A youth named J. \V. Ohitty, a person, m a respectable situation, fell m at Christchurch the other day, when the appearance of the tram inspector revealed him to have no ticket. Had not the Inspector materialised the youth would have saved sixpence, and the Tramway Board would have been that much the poorer. Chitty, whose name for the purposes ot this case might have been Cheety, boarded the Sumner car at the clock tower, and although Conductor Kelly testified that he passed through and said, "Kaies please," at least a dozen times, Chitty Ttiadc no sign, and owned up to the Inspector at Woolston tha^ he had no ticket, and had got on at the clock tower. The Inspector told the Court that Chitty's first statement was that he got on at Woolston, but thinking truth the better part of valour, owned up to boarding the car at the clock tower m the

city. A youiiK iiian named Phillip lioulton said that Chitty got on at the clock tower and sat beside him. He confirmed the statement that the conductor went through at least a dozen times, and CHITTY DIDN'T OFFER TO PAKT UP. There were only four people on the seat. Lawyer Donnelly, for the accused, ridiculed the idea that the conductor had not seen a fresh face when ' Chitty got on at the clock tower. The youth was charged with attempting to evade payment of his fare, and the evidence had disclosed no attempt to defraud the Tramway Board, the fare having been paid when .demanded. He held that a tram conductor who didn't remember every person who entered the car wasn't fit to be a conductor. He called young Chitty, who swore positively that the conductor passed through the car once only on the way to Woolston, but on that occasion the youth's back was turned to the official, and he didn't see him till too late, tie was travelling to Sumner on his boss's business, and his boss was paying the fare, m addition to wnich he had his own season ticket m his pocket. He had a shilling m his hand waiting throughout the journey. The J.P. Bench was sceptical, however, and convicted Chitty, although for reasons unmentioned no fine was imposed.