AN IRREPRESSIBLE VAGRANT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 December 1925, Page 5

AN IRREPRESSIBLE VAGRANT.

GETS ANOTHER CHANCE An unconscious humorist stood in the dock in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning on a charge of vagrancy. .He'was an old man. Peter Butler, alias Clancy, and during the case lie showed clearly that he was perfectly at home ia the dignified atmosphere of the Court. “I have seen him loitering round the Thorndon waiting shed quite a lot recently,” declared Constable Morrison, “but he doesn't seem, to have any money nor any place of abode.” Accused: Speak up, constable. T can ’t hear you. Witness repeated his evidence. Accused leaned forward in the dock and pointed his finger at. the police officer. “What do yo! mean by recently?” he queried. Constable Mofison thought for a moment. “Weil, within the past week.” “Ah, now, (that's funny,” said Butler, with the air of a lawyer driving home his point. “J only came here on Tuesday. At this stage. Mr E. Page, S.M., interrupted the dialogue. “Butler, if you wish to give evidence you must go into the box.” Accused readily stepped into the dock. “Now,” he said, looking round the room for a calendar. ‘‘Wli-atls the date?” On being enlightened on this point he proceeded to detail his movements of the past few days. “Saturday night I was in Master-ton, Sunday in Carterton, Monday night in Greytown, and Tuesday—Featherston.” Sub-Inspector Hollis (who prose-cut.-ed)s You are not fond of work, are you? You were in court in August last for drunkenness, and you wereYgivcn a chance then, were- you not? Butler confessed that csucli was the case. “And you were here again in September and given another,.chance. You have a long list,” observed the subinspector. “For stowing away, vagrancy, obscene language, idle and disorderly, drunkenness 1 —” , “Oh! Never mind about that. 1 am not charged with those offences now,” protested defendant. The sub-in,speeitor (to Mr Page): This man is a nuisance. Me wanders round late at night and annoys women. “Let me see- his list,” said Mr Page. Accused: Well, I may as well tell you the truth. I was locked up iu Masterton on Saturday night. But, please, your worship, won A you give me just one more chance. I’ll make a clean break of it. “Very well, Butler,” said Mr Page, “I will give you another chance. You must take out a prohibition order before vou leave this court. You nill be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon within 1months. You must 'leave the city today.” “Thanks, Your Worship,” said Butler, as he left the court.