AN ANCIENT AXIOM

NZ Truth, Issue 604, 13 January 1917, Page 6

AN ANCIENT AXIOM

Judged by the Company Kept

v . ■ . . . . ' . r- • 'O'Brien Disregards Warnings f

And Is GatJfed For Six Months

At the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on Thursday, before Mr. S. E. McCarthy, S.M., a fat-faced young gentleman named Michael O'Brien was charged with being "deemed to be an idle and disorderly person m that he did habitually consort with reputed thieves, he having been previously convicted." ■ Inspector Hendrey prosecuted and Michael was represented by Mick hiin»elf. . .■ : .:'■ Constable Kenneth Allister Brennan gave evidence of having seen the accused pressing, down pavement m. Tara-naki-street on December 12 m the company of Frederick Saunders, A/CONVICTED THIEF. On December 16 he had reinforced his tine with George Williams and William 'Barner, both of whom had been garfteredfinto the stone fold for commandeering stunts. x The Inspector: The. accused iB a f&arried man, I believe ?r— Yes. HasVhe been working of late?— Yes, fairly constantly; but he win not keep •way .'from this bad company. I have told him of it and haye spoken to his wife about him, but the fact is that he • will not keep away from the bad companionship. When I spoke to him he •aid, ™I can't pass my old mates without speaking to them. The trouble is that he wanders round. with them till U o'clock at night. • . v Gonstable Thomas V7m. Cox said that he had seen Mick m peace conference -with George Wilson, who •.wouldn't 'take anything away which he was unftble to carry. George was a convicted thief. They were acting as pavement inspectors In Taranaki-street. On another occasion he was m , solemn conclave with Michael Nash, plus William Garner; and. he and Nash were i evidently discussing matters of grand national importance. . Ditto on ano- ' tner occasion. ": He had issued oral ultfcnatums to Mick who seemed very >piuch unimpressed. Constable A. Barnes had seen Mick about with Bill McKay, who bad been deemed guilty of . ■ SELLING TOO MUCH LIQUOR with too little license. He had seen yrim m solemn ' conference witia 'Mr. ; Saunders, a "c.t." , . The Inspector:; Do you Ainow this < man (Mick) ?— tf es, for the last 18 months. ' " . „.' ' ' Does he drink as 'much as before ?—^ Yes, just as much and he keeps the company of wasters. Have you spoken to him about the company he keeps?— rYes. : The Bench: What did he say?— Oh, that he just speaks to his mates. The Bench,, to accused: Well, what have you got to say? Mick: 'Well, your Worship, Td like you to give me a chance. It won't occur again. , - The S.M. : Well, you have been up before the Court before and have, been I warned by the police yet you eeem to take no notice. | i ~* The Inspector explained that the aceossed had a splendid little wife, who was hard-working and industrious. ' He had two bonny children, also, but be seemed to prefer the company of thieves to that of decent domestic life. "His whole trouble is due to drink. The last time he was convicted a prohibition order was made one of the conditions with excellent results to his wife and' children," said the Inspector . The Bench, addressing moon-faced Michael, said, "Let me explain the pos- * sibilitles to you ; «, This Act (under -which he was charged) is founded on an old axiom, 'A man Is judged by the company he keeps.' If a man Is found to the company of reputed thieves by day and night It must be taken for granted that he is of the company he keeps. lam going to inflict a substantial term of Imprisonment on you 00 that you oan get the drink out of - your system and give you an opportunity ■ tunity of thinking it over . , You are 'convicted and' sentenced to six months' Imprisonment with bard labor." . MICHAEL GAVE A START, . ejaculated "Thank you, sir," and bolted from the " dock— but, m the wrong direction — towards liberty. A burly ."John Hopkins," however, > redirected blm by placing his framework between ; Mick and the open-door policy. Mick !*beg pardoned" and retreated to the /prisoners! room, -and, tn^ ten seconds, roars like those of a tiger with tho toothache < spread through the court premises' while a posse of v " John Hops" rushed the cage 'where 1 Mick was tohucking a fit." Bxit Mick for half-a-year.