Hit Him on the Ha-ha.

Waikato Times, Issue 12906, 29 June 1914, Page 4

Hit Him on the Ha-ha.

SEQUEL TO SIDE-SHOW. One of the ''merry gentlemen'.' who sat on the board of the "Hit him on the ha-ha" side-shows at the Waikato Winter Show appeared before Mr E. Hawson, S.M., at the Hamilton Police Court to-day, in the person of Abraham Brott, a half-caste Maori, on two charges of theft of clothing.. Frederick Thompson, laborer, said he boarded in Hood street, Hamilton, and the accused slept in the next room. On June 5 accused came to his room and said he would likd to buy some trousers hanging in witness' room. He added that he had no time to try them on, so witness allowed him to take the trousers to the Winter Show and try them on there. Accused saw witness next day, when ho said he would take the trousers and pay on the Saturday. The Magistrate, said that if that were' theft they would have the Courts full in no time.

A second charge was preferred against acused of stealing an overcoat, the property of the proprietor of the boardinghouse. He borrowed the coat, and promised to return it. He did not keep the promise, but said he had left the coat in New Plymouth.

15. P. Rodshaw, proprietor of the boardinghouse, corroborated. He said that accused, who worked on the sideshow known as ''Hit him on the haha," told him that lie was in and out of warm water. Ho was afraid of catching cold, and asked for the loan of the coat, which witness valued at £2. Accused also forgot to pay his. board. Accused stated that he loft the overcoat at a siiop in charge of a man named McGuinness, who had a kniferack at the Waikato Winter Show. McGuinness hired a shop in New Plymouth in which to put his things. Witness caused a letter to lie written by the "Siamese Twins man" to Rodshaw promising to send on the coat by the next mail. He was unable to get the coat from the shop, though, and-did not post tlio letter. Sergt. Hastie said that the police had wired the owner of the shop in New Pl\»nouth, but nothing was known of the coat.

The. Magistrate said there was a doubt as to. whether accused had intended to convert the coat to bis own use, although it was not a case above suspicion. Show life was not the sort of life'for a young-man like accused. Ho was strong,'and cbuld get an honest living. - - Sergt. Hastie said accused came from Whangarei. He-had fbeeh .witb buckjumpers for the last nine months. He added that who appeared to be about 25 years old, was only 16 years of age; The charge was dismissed, and accused told to go home to Whangarei,