“YOU AMUSE ME”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 12, 5 April 1927, Page 9

“YOU AMUSE ME”

PRISONER’S SCORN THE GAME OF U-BACK Clarence William O’Shea, aged 30, who has done no work since seme time in December, was an exponent of the gentle art of “U-Back” —a game not exactly legal, played in hotel bars. He wanted to give a demonstration to a chance acquaintance in the Albion Hotel yesterday, and asked the man to take a bet on the game. The chance acquaintance wasn’t having any. It so happened that he was Constable Tomassen, in plain clothes, and now O’Shea wishes he had chosen someone else to take the bet. In the Police Court this morning he was charged with being an idle and disorderly person. “‘U-Back’ is used about hotels by men who do not work to take down other men,” Detective Moon explained for the benefit of the court. “I told you you wouldn’t find work in hotel bars drinking beer,” said the detective in answer to a question from the accused. “You amuse me, you do,” said O’Shea scornfully. “You must think I’m a bit of a goat. All right, that’ll do” — this in a resigned tone. Chief Detective Cummings then mentioned a few things about O’Shea’s previous history. Among other things, he was convicted of begging a few years ago in Wellington, he said, and this year at Auckland for assault, and hadn’t paid his fine yet. “It’s no use imposing a fine oij you now,” said Mr. McKean, S.M. “You haven’t any money. I shall have to sentence you—one month!”