STIFFS AND SPIELERS.

NZ Truth, Issue 217, 21 August 1909, Page 11

STIFFS AND SPIELERS.

Vaughan Claims Virtue. ■ There are probably more crooks, sfcifis, dead-beats, cadgers, lug-biters, spongers, spielers, tick-tackers and human refuse to the square inch m Auckland than anywhere else under the Southern. Cross. You can't move outside your own house without stumbling over some of these delectable, dust-bin derelicts. Many of these coves v/ith cast-iron countenances openly stick one up m the broad light of day and try _ their- best —or worst to put the pincers m. Others, of a more vicious type still, emulate the example of the pavement Venus, and "never go out till after durk to earn their daily bread." Their despicable modus operand! is to lie m wait for helpless "drunks," lure them into some dark coiner—often under the pretence of producing'" some fair and fascinating Flossie—and then go through them. A lot of the riff-raff of Australia has undoubtedly found its way over here, but there are also PLENTY OF HOME-GROWN CROOKS to swell the rorty ranks of the rotters and rooks. It is hard to secure convictions m cases of'theft from shickers, as the victim is usually too well loaded to have any clear recollection of faces or figures m the cold grey of the remorseful Morning Alter. But the police have one effective way of roping m. the detestable, human parasites. They can shoot them m under the Vag. Act, and make them show that they are living by honest means. The local "demons" have now got busy, and arc now promptly snatching the carcase oJ every crook they can justifiably lay hands on. And this vigilance is, of course, helping to purify the place, and to pur^e it of the human scabs and vermin that have made it nauseating and unsightly. A number of these Vag. ;cases > have been dealt with just lately, but one of the most peculiar came before Mr Cutten, S.M., recently. Thomas Vaiighan was charged with being idle and disorderly, having insufficient lawful means of support;- Mr W. E. Hnckett appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. For the prosecution, several "demons" and "Jqhns" vpfp, called, who ga*i vaiigh'an a shoddy character. He hris never been known to soil his lilywhite docks with beastly,. vulgar toil," but strolled about like a bloated Pluto taking th« open-air, cure. But he did not take his rambles alone. Oh no! solitude did not suit his temperament. ;. \.,. c■e ■ :. A- -^ -r-,:■ i '? v HE LIKED COMPANY^ '. , and always got it. But, according to the 'tecß., his cobbers were not on the -Government 'Ouse, visiting • list, and-could' not be said to cut much ice m high S assiety. In fact, tho "demons" bluntly declared that his associates were thieves and bad eggs generally. These unkind, allegations were repudiated m panned accents of reproach. Mr Hackett proceeded to depict Vaughan as quite a vessel oi virtue and a paragon of propriety. It seemed that he was a most studious young man, whose countenance ought to be "sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought." He haunted the public library, according to counsel, and no doubt spent laborious days assimilating- the logic and philosophy of the ancient classics, or perchance gratifying his artistic tasted with the sweets and blossoms oi purple-tinted poesy. His interest 1n literature, however, did not end here. He

J was himself concerned m the maKing of hooks. As Mr Hackett put it, lie was a bookmaker's clerk. Counsel explained that accused could make pleiity of good red "once on the days when he cud work. As he was not married, and lived on very little, he preferred to follow the Jead of the lotus-eater, and lounge away long, luxurious days m alluring laziness. Further, he was something of a plaster \,l Paris saint, and did not drink or play 'billiards, and smoked but little. He filjed m his time "going down the street, riding m tram-cars, and one thing and another." He alleged that he could pull m £100 to £150 a year as a penciiler's amanuensis. | The Magistrate, however, wasn't impressed worth a peanut. He pointed out coldly, that accused had WORKED ONLY FIVE OR SIX DAYS during the past two months, bringing him m £4 12$ 6d. "That an able-bodied man should be content with this small amount of work indicates a peculiar stale of affairs, and leads to the suspicion that he made money from a source, even less reputable than that from which he claims to earn his livelihood," added Mr (Jutten. Moreover, accused was given "a life," being convictsd and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.