A SKETCH IN A POLICE COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8281, 7 November 1906, Page 3

A SKETCH IN A POLICE COURT.

As a result of much gesticulating, •polling, and gentle prodding tbe fair female is successfully nianoe uvred into tne position of eminence. 'Margaret Bucktrout, you are ' charged tbat on tbe 4th day of August last you were found drunk in Georoe Street, this being your j third offence within tbe past Bix months. How do you plead?' Apparently uncertain if thisgabb- | led legal ultimatum is directed to-1 wards herself, the lady seeks information on that point. Patting the blue-apparelled escort standing uusaspeotiDßly nt hor elbow fondly on the cbeek,sbe enquires as amicably as a paiobed throat will allow: 'ls be addressing his remarks to me' 'Ye?,' answers the.mortiGed embodiment of law and order. 'Well, what'd he say,then?' irritably. 'You are charged—' * and tbe orderly, in. a high-pitched voice of which be is extremely proud, eoes •over the charge again. As she hears the strength of her arraignment a look amounting to contempt crosses her features. 'Why, guilty, o' .course!' she exclaims in a disdainful tone, as though her accusers must bo a lot of dotards troubling her to acswer such a ne«dless question—and with her record too! Having disposed of her portion of •the proceedings, Margaret leans gracefully (or as gracefully as a very drooping feather banging from a hat. in the last stage of •collapse will permit of) against the rail, and gazes with a far a-way look about the Court. - 'Well?' says tbe magistrate, to , tbe prosecuting sergeant. A lengthy list handed up to tbe Bench in response goes to prove that all Is not well, nor has been for gome considerable time, with the snbjeot under notioe. But this morning's presiding justice happens not to have been honoured with the lady's presence on tusi ness bent previously. He reads the doonment denoting the failings from grace; then coughs drily, aud surveys the nrisoner, prior to undertaking what he feels to be his ob- • vious duty in this case. 'You know, my good woman,' be begins, speaking in a teGttingly solemn and condescending manner, with his eyes Gxe3 on the clock a,t the back of the court: 'you know it is a very sad thing to see you mis spending your life as you are doing. (Ahem!) Can nothing drag you back from the depth of degradation to which you are so Eurely sinking? It is an extremely saddening eight (ahem!) to me tc see you, a comparatively young wo-i-man— —' 'Forty-five, Your Worship,' from the sergeant, who has ideas of his •own respecting women aud tbeir ages. *I Say, for a (ahem!) strong woman of your description,' continues v the magistrate, warming to his serfimposed task of reformation, and frowning at tbe interruption, 'it is indeed sad to feel that you aie wasting your lito in such a wanton man ner. I ask you, I—(ahem!)—l beseech you, think of your husband, think of your children, what an • example—' 'Single woman, sir,' again, from trie sergeant, sotto voce. The magistrate stops for breath and glares at tbe offending official in a manner that silences him effectually. Then once again throwing optics on the cI-ck face he resumes his discourse to the culprit, who is engaged in staring a policeman out of countenance: •Why will you not ruake an effort to regain your position as a respectable woman and a credit to your sex? Try! Think of all tbe teautiful things in life you are missing by pursuing your present •career. Think of all the comforts, all the joys, which might be yours. In tbe hope that you might take my words seriously to heart 1 am going to be lenient with you this time, and——' The fervent movements of the magistrate's lipflTand right arm suddely arouse in tbe prisoner an idea. Turning quickly she nodded* her be draggled feather in the direction of the Bench, and says: 'Talking to me, ain't he, George?' George, whose indignation is aroused a second time by this undue familiarity, and whose name might be Ootavius for all that his charge knows to the contrary, clears his throat with an effort. 'HiB Worship is addressing you,' he repliesioftily. 'Ah, £ thou K ht he was,' rejoins 1 the prisoner, with a malicious ohuokle, 'only I'm as deaf as a post and oan't hear one word. Have been for nigh on twenty-—' 'lhree months!' snaps the Bench, the lenient tendency evaporating iiistantaneously. And as "George" leads this might-be respectable citizen away, and bawls, at her request, the extent of her incarceration with unmistakable volume into her faulty hearing appendages, she is heard to ejaculate that she oan "do it" on her head.—Auckland Herald.