THE CHEWING COW-BOY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4536, 13 February 1942, Page 5

THE CHEWING COW-BOY

AMERICAN ATMOSPHERE IN COURT OTOROHANGA INCIDENT “Thomas Thomas!” Such was a name called by the Clerk of Court at the sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Otorohanga on Wednesday last. A middle-aged man rose from his seat at the back of the Courtroom, and, obviously chewing gum and with a slight semblance of bandy legs as became a rider of the great open spaces, stepped forward. The few habitues sat up and took notice. As the Clerk read the charge, that of being in possession of a .38 calibre revolver and 74 rounds of ammunition without declaring same as required by law, defendant kept his right hand bare and free as if to the manner born and chewed gum all the time. The Magistrate peered with undisguised curiosity at the man who had fractured the law; the crowd, well, it simply kept on staring. Defendant immediately created in the Court the real live atmosphere and aroma of the Wild West of America. .With a big sombrero in the left hand, he presented a picturesque sight in his leather jacket, with its variegated buttons reminiscent of the Spanish Cavalier of old, while the gorgeous handkerchief hanging loosely round his neck added to the colourful effect. The wide pants were there ..too, the only things missing being the high heels of the cowboy’s boots and the clinking spurs. “How do you plead?” asked the Clerk. “Guilty, I guess!” replied the chewing one. Constable David Robertson, outlining the case for the Police, stated that defendant was a native of America, having spent part of his life in Canada. He had come to the Otorohanga district .in 1937, bringing with him the revolver and a quantity of ammunition. Since that time he had been employed on various farms in the. district, retaining the revolver in hjs possession although he knew that to do so without. a permit constituted an offence. Defendant, who had been in steady employment, had volunteered early in the war for active service but had been “turned down” by the military as medically unfit. He (the Constable) asked that any penalty be accompanied by an order forfeiting the revolver and ammunition to the Crown. The Magistrate (no doubt noticing the defendant still chewing furiously): You’re an American all right? Defendant: I guess 1 am! The S.M.: I notice that you keep on chewing while you are talking to the Bench. Defendant: I guess that’s our style. I guess I intended to leave this country, but my papers have expired. I guess I was going to Australia, but I guess New Zealand is as good a country as any I have been in. The S.M.: Well, it’s a safer place than Australia at present. Defendant: I guess that’s right! The S.M.: I don’t think you had any evil intent! Defendant: I guess not. The S.M.: Very well, then. Convicted and fined £1 and 10s costs and the revolver and ammunition forfeited to the Crown. Defendant (putting his hand into a pocket): I guess I’ll pay that right now. The S.M. (the lingo apparently having become infectious): I guess you had better pay at the office. All smiles and chewing voraciously, defendant departed thence—a typical cow-boy, but without packing his revolver and ammunition.