"HELLO, SAMBO!"

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

"HELLO, SAMBO!"

Fitzgerald Clark Goes Crook A Black and White Study. No man has such delicate notions about the color line as the "colored pusson" himself; This often leads to trouble as was shown m the Magistrate's Court, "Wellington, on Thursday, when James O'Meara and Fitzgerald Clark was charged with having damaged the peace (nothing to do with operations at the front) to some considerable extent. , --'' From the evidence adduced by Inspector it appears that O'Meara is a returned "soljah" and, as he was going into the National Hotel he met the Ethiopian Fits, and accosted him. with ■ "HELLO, SAMBO." "Sambo," however, resented this allusion to "de cottun fields fur away," and invited Mr. O'Meara to elevate his prop sticks, this being, done to the detriment of the young man's countenance. ; Constable A. Barnes gave evidence of his having noticed a large crowd m the street and he found Jimmy O'Meana's dial literally bathed m blood. Asked who had "strafed" . him he referred him tb'Massa Fitzgerald ClarKi On going m to the* pub lie found Fitas fitting a glass of wine into his interior. He queried Fitz re the Fritz stunt as performed on O'Meara. This the Insulted "Sambo" at first denied, but eventually allowed that he would not be insulted by anyone, ii When the charge was put up to them O'Meara admitted his share and wanted the matter dealt with right away. Fitz,- however, wanted an adjournment ias he wished to procure a lawyer. He began with a long oration. " ••being: a man of color,he said, "I can't get Justice when I walk the streets. I wish to have an adjournment so that I may have a solicitor to place my case before you as I am unable to place it." His Worship remarked that he seemed to be doing very well at the initial attempt 'and the Inspector; explained that it had been the custom of gallant "soljahs" m Egypt to address all "cullud pussons" as "Sambo," the same being a familiarity which was Quite the custom and had nothing to do -with ridiculing the Ethiopian. " His Worship Bald that there appeared to have been some misunderstanding and he thought the ends of justice would be met by dismissing the information, which . was accordingly done and the Btndy m black and white walked out of the Coort.