A LAST LAUGH

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 5

A LAST LAUGH

Motorists' Joke With Costly Sequel (From "N.Z. Truth's" Gisborne Rep.) During the Easter holidays two smart young men from Auckland learned tha* all people m Gisborne are not mugs — and they have paid through the nose for trying to play a rather thin joke. TRNEST HAROLD EWEN had reached the age of 37 and his companion, Harold Guffy, had seen 28 summers go past without learning the truth of the ild adage: "He who laughs last laughs ongest." Now they have learned, but their iducation had to be paid for. It was rather a mean sort of trick hey tried to put across. According to he statement they made to the police, he two bright young men travel the ountry buying scrap metal. In the course of their travels they merely passed through Gisborne, but while there the motor- lorry required petrol. They obtained the necessary fill at Mortimer's garage. Ten gallons was supplied — but not paid for. i Guffy's first effort at quenching the benzine-buggy's thirst on the cheap was by offering the youth who served | them 10/- for the benzine and 5/- as an i Easter egg for himself. The youth, however, would not be a party to robbing his employer — and said so. Guffy then slipped some silver into the attendant's hand, but this only totalled 9/-, less than half the reQuired amount.* The youth insisted that if they were not going to pay the correct amount they must sign a book kept for credit purchases. He went to secure the book, but while he was away the lorry was slipped into gear and faded away into the night. And as it passed down the road the laughter of the two clever young tourists came drifting back on the breeze. It's not wise to laugh at one's own lokes, however. That laugh annoyed the attendant, Mervyn Scragg, but he's sot over the annoyance and is now laughing himself, while Guffy and Ewen are kicking themselves hard. Scragg walked along to the police station and repeated the little joke. The police didn't see the point, either. 3UFFY EXPLAINS The Motu station was communicated with. The two young men who were .so anxious to reach Auckland for Easter were stopped on the road and brought 40 miles back to the place which they had been m such a hurry to leave behind. Good Friday was spent m making explanations to the police and the following day they appeared m court to explain to Magistrate Levvey that there was no foundation for the charge of obtaining by fraud, petrol valued at 13/6. The garage attendant related the circumstances under which he had been offered 5/- to sell the benzine at less than half price and how he was subsequently taken down. Ho admitted that Guffy had explained that they wanted some money to cover expenses during the journey to Auckland, but he Baid most decidedly that he woa not aware that the pair had £45 m notes between them. ! Guffy told the court that he was igjnorant of the fact that his companion tarried such a large wad; his own statement about being short -was quite correct. Ho had not given his name to the garage attendant, but would have paid when he returned after the holidays. Ewen, on the other hand, was just as Ignorant of Guffy's penury as Guffy was of his affluence. Had he known the position he certainly would have paid for the petrol. The bench gave the accused the benefit of the doubt and discharged them on condition that they paid £2/10/- costs. Ewen, m addition, was convicted of driving without a license and has to pay costs for that lot also. The result of the little episode is i that Messrs. G*v«y and Ewen have had * to pay' a very neavy tax on their ' petrol, have been forced to double back ; a long way on their tracks and spent their holidays on the road instead of m the gay city of the north.