BEAR HUGS POLICEMAN

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7802, 5 September 1903, Page 4

BEAR HUGS POLICEMAN

L'ENTENTE CORDIALE AT BROMHON. A bean, accompanied by two Frenchmen, was in the dock at Westminster during the time the French President was in London. To celebrate no doubt l'entente cordiale, Bruin warmly hugged a policeman in Ovington Square, Brwmptou, the previous day. The bear lu\d been dancing. His Gallic friends, Ugette Bierre and Auguste Pigmall'w, held, the one a rope attached to the dancer, the other a long pole. A large amd admiring crowd looked on. Bear and Frenchmen occupied the noadway, and a long line of-< motionless vehicles stretched away on either hand. I At this point P.C.. 6713. and P.O. 3268. joined the audience, and! pointed out, with the utmost politeness, the irregularity of the proceedings. Not to be- outdone in courtesy, the bear at once embraced the officer neairest to him, Who happened to be 678. Unhappily, he was too demonstrative. As the constable put ib in the Westminster Police Court, the animal " set about him and hugged him." " I am ver^ stiff this morning," continued the policeman, Ruefully. "I had my back to the bear when he jumped on me, and if it had not been for Bierre getting him off I should have had a bad time. Bierre did his best to get the bear away." Misundenstood Bruin, now in the dock, cast a reproachful glance at the speaker, and the Magistrate said : " Jnfortunately, the bear is outside^ my jurisdiction." It was explained to the Frenchmen that obstructing the traffic was illegal, and also that London cab-horses had a particular avension to bjars. The couple saii they would return to France without loss of time, and on that understanding .they were allowed to leave.