HOW WOULD YOU PLEAD IF YOU WAS ME? ASKS WITNESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 1

HOW WOULD YOU PLEAD IF YOU WAS ME? ASKS WITNESS.

NO USE CONTRADICTIN’ THE CONSTABLE, HE SAYS. " Well, how would you plead if you was me?" asked Robert Falloon in the Magistrates Court this morning, when he appeared on remand in answer to a charge of having been found drunk. The constable who arrested him a week ago said accused was drank in Colombo Street. He had a bottle of beer in his hand and was shouting at the top of his voice. The Magistrate (Mr 11. A. Young, S.M.): Have you any questions to ask the constable? Accused: It's no use contradictin’. Senior-Sergeant Martin said accused had been remanded for medical treatment, and the. expenses were 17s 6d. The Magistrate: Are you prepared to taka out a prohibition order?

Accused: No, thanks. By this time accused had a broad grin on his face, and had his thumbs stuck defiantly in the shoulder loopholes of his waistcoat.

The Magistrate (to the. .senior-ser-geant): 1 think you had better make an application for a prohibition order, lie hasn’t had one since 1908, but has been in trouble several times through drink.

Accused was ordered to stand down while the police prepared a prohibition order.

When accused was brought into the dock again he was asked if lie would consent to the order. "Do I consent to it? Certainly not." replied accused. After hearing the. evidence of two constables the. Magistrate said' "Don’t vou think a prohibition order would help you?" Accused (in a deep voice) : No. The Magistrate: Apparentlv when you take drink you can’t control yourself. You call out. Accused: I'll take out an order for that if you like. 1 won’t sing out any more! (Laughter.) On the charge of drunkenness accused was convicted and discharged. He was ordered to pay 17s fid medical expenses, in default four days’ imprisonment. and a prohibition order was issued against him.