Mistaken Identity.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5207, 13 February 1892, Page 1

Mistaken Identity.

The much-travelled Whareama poet (Mr R. M. S. Mailt) has arrived in Mastcrton on his way north. Since his sojourn in the hospital hero lie has recovered thoroughly from the eflects of his railway accident. Of late be has been in the South Island, where he spent a good time; but he had a rather awkward mishap in the vicinity of Oainaru. a racy account of which he thus furnishes : "I walked from Oainaru to Hampden on Thursday, September 24th, stayed the night, and then started for Palmerston South. While in an hotel at 4 p.in on Friday, two policemen entered and asked me to let them look at my overcoat. On examining it, they said it bore out tho description, even to the lining of the pocket being torn, and the buttons of composite make, with a coat stolen in Oamaru, and in spite of my protestations, I was locked up and taken by tho evening train to Hampden. Next day the constable sent a description of tho coat I had, and on a telegram coming that it was not the coat, I was brought before a J.P. and discharged. Subsequently another telegram came telling the constable to detain me, as, under the name of Price, I had sold another coat (the stolen one) to a man at Deborah (three miles south of Oainaru). I was detained until Monday morning, and then taken to Deborah to face tho mail who had bought tho coat for .'ls. But, as the coat had been bought at night,

lie could not positively say if 1 were tho iii.-i.il or not, but said that the one who had sold tlio co.it had boon living at tho Star Boarding-house inOaniaru. I walked in witli tho constable to ()aniaru, where tho detective there was cook Mire I was the guilty party, lie asked me ' How was my foot'! 1 Was the gout better (' 1 replied: 'Never had the spoilt, in my life, and that if he were to surest hucli a thing to anyone who knew my walking capabilities they would laugh him to scorn.' 1 went to the boarding-house, where the people at onee declared that 1 was not the man, or, except iu height, like him. The detective was dumbfounded ; never know such a coincidence in Ins life, lie paid my fare back again, and gave me tny dinner. The guilty party was a man about my height, who wore an overcoat, and in a Hour bag, in whieli were other clothes, lie carried the stolen overcoat. He had the gout, used a walking stick, and w is finally captured in Punedin for stealing a glazier's diamond and a book on physiognomy. So while 1 was whistling " Lads and Lassies " in captivity to keep my spirits up, the gentleman with the Hour bag, gout, and walking slick was wandering at. his own sweet will over this picturesque country, drinking pale ale and cursing ! he Pope. The police in the country were very considerate. They did not. think me guilty, but were obliged to obey ordern from headquarters iu Oaniaru. The coincidence was rather remarkable about, the coat, and the goiily man left. Oanmrti the evening before me.