A FINAL CHANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18762, 16 January 1923, Page 3

A FINAL CHANCE

CALVERTS LAPSE. Uls BALANCED BY CHRISTMAS. Thomas Edward Calvert was the name of a diminutive and elderly man who, appearing on various charges appertaining to the licensing law, kept Air H. W. Bundle, S.M., and the rest of the court amused for a few minutes yesterday. The man, who had been remanded from Saturday for medical attention, was still in a somewhat shaky condition. Ho was charged with drunkenness, the breach of a prohibition order by procuring liquor from some person unknown, and with entering two hotels during the currency of the order. The defendant ruminated over the first charge before deciding what his plea would bo. Ho then said he was guilty. “Never mind reading the others—guilty to the lot,’’ he announced. Asked if he had anything to say for himself, tho defendant said quite a lot. He explained that he came from Christchurch, and that, although there were 15 previous convictions against him, ho had never appeared before tho court for using bad language or anything of that sort. Before tho court at Christmas time his Worship had been good enough to discharge him.—Could ho not get another chance? In fact, it was the prohibition order that seemed to have unbalanced him—that and Christmas.

Tho Magistrate remarked that tho defendant's outbreaks were not confined to Christmas lime—there was one on November 15. “I suppose that is ‘practically Cnristmas,’ ’’ remarked Mr Bundle dryly, and Calvert agreed with a ready “Oh yes.’’ Asked if he had any brothers in Dunedin, the defendant stated that ho was the youngest of tho family l —only seven years old. He had a hundred brothers spread ■out all over tho place like the branches of a genealogical tree.—(Laughter.) The Magistrate (severely): You will have to be placed under restraint, Oalvert. You are a nuisance.

The Defendant: I have done without restraint for the last four years. I have been twice on “(he island,"’ and that has done me no good. It would cost the Government about £SO to send mo there, and I am quite able to pay a fine and bo done with it.

Perhaps the economic argument appealed to Ids Worship, who inquired if the defendant had money. “Plenty in the bank in Auckland,” wns tho reply. It suddenly occurred to the "defendant .that his case was still open to improvement, and be explaipgd that so far as one of the charges was concerned he had not had time to have a drink in the hotel—he was apprehended on (he door-step. Ihe Magistrate; You were very unfortunate.

The defendant declared that he had been ■“very, very unfortunate.’’ 'I he Magistrate (significantly) : You have plenty of money, have you? You will bo fined 20s and costa for "drunkenness. £3 and costs for the breach of your prohibition order, £1 and costs on "each of the charges of entering an hotel, and you will he ordered to pay £1 6s for medical attention. If you come before the court again you will bo sent to Rotoroa. This is absolutely your lost chance. 'Hie defendant thanked (he magistrate for his leniency, and also the senior-ser-geant (who had not opposed the “last chance”), and withdrew-, looking considerably happier. A little later the joyous (drains of a concertina burst forth ;i "tune of thankfulness from within the Police Station.