Fxtracts from a London Diary.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 77

Fxt racts from a London Diary.

The writer o f this little Diary, which appears in the March number of the Pall Mall Magazine, was, on one occasion, one of what is called a common jury. "Among the oases," he says, "was that of a sailor, who charged another seaman with shooting at him They had quarrelled about a girl, who was amusing herseif with each in turn, as often happens, though, of course, each supposed that he was the favourite. One of these sailors gave the girl a silk scarf, *nd the other, seeing it and questioning her, gave her another and finer one. These two sailors were bosom friends, and one da}% being merry with rum, they visited ■the girl together, when the matter of the scarves came out, and they began to fight. One of them whipped out a revolver and fired six shots at his friend. None of them hit him; but they played havoo with the furniture, starred mirrors and pictures, and so on. The police came, and the man with the revolver was, charged with trying to take the other's life.

''The two sailors were both sober now. of course, and all feelings of enmity had disappeared. When the time came the prisoner said to his friend in the witnessbox : 'Now, Jack, just think : when I w&3 shooting did I try to hit you?'

" 'I don't know,' answered Jack.

" 'I'll ask you another question. Was I the best shot on our ship?' They were both man-o' -war's men.

" 'Yes.'

" 'And do you mean to tell me that I couldn't have hit you if I'd wanted, when I was only a yard away?'

" 'Yes, Bill, I'm sure you could,' replied Jack, rubbing his chin with a great beefy hand.

" 'Haven't you seen mo send a bullet through the ace of spades at twenty yards?' " 'Yes, Bill, I've seen you do it !' " 'You tak<2 up a bit more room than that, don't you, Jack?'

"Jack smiled, and everyone else laughed loudly, for Jack was an enormous fellow.

"Bill, too, was in high good humour

" 'Of course, you've seen ma do it. An'] if his Lordship,' indicating the judge, 'will just hokl up a. card between his fingers I'll show him I can do it now, and I'll undertake not to hurt him.'

"His Lordship laughingly declined_ the offer, and in the end he discharged Bill on his undertaking to pay the damages."