THE SEAMY SIDE.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16788, 4 May 1926, Page 9

THE SEAMY SIDE.

TALES TOLD TO MAGISTRATE. WHISTLING GEORGE. (By 11. B. Corder, in London Daily Mail.) Imitating birds is the speciality of Whistling' George, who usually prefers Dnc dock al Marlborough Street Police Court, but yesterday lie appeared before .Mr Vernon Gatlie at Westminster. A constable declared that Whistling George was raising the wind not by whistling but by begging. "I was imitating birds," urged George. "The only birds he imitated must have been stuffed. I did not hear a a sound," said the constable. "That, was because I had a sore mout'ri," contained George. "I did my lest, but, you can't do yourself juslice in the bird line with a sore mouth.'' "You were begging," insisted Mio officer. "Pardon me, - ' said George, handing up a Press culling io the magistrate. "1 had this notice the last, time I appeared al Marlborough Street." "You evidently did whistle on that occasion," agreed Mr Gallic, "but the point is, were you whistling yesterday?" "He was begging," interpolated the c ff icer "Whistling," said George, "with a sore mouth." "Beeping," retorted the officer. "Imitating birds," said George. "Bcgg •" began the constable. "Thai will do," remarked the magistrate, slopping the cross-talk between the dork and the witness-box by fining Whistling Gmrcc, who is no slran-cr to prison, tOs. or, if the court had to whistle for the money, seven days. *** ' •

"My State of health is not consistent with the elements; I got very wet," pleaded a midio-aged man vvfio saw the old year go out but, had some doubts about the arrival of the new year.

"Were you drunk last night?" asked the clerk of a Scotsman, who wore a red beard and a moustache to ma I eh.

"J was," came the reply, not in sorrow nor yet in shame, but with an inflection Up I suggested pride of race and joy in 'achievement.

"I was going Io start the New Year well by beginning work early this morning, and bore I am wasting tonic," said a charwoman dolefully from the dock. Mi- Gallic permitted her to make a day of it by knepinpher in custody until Hie afternoon, failing the payment of ss.

"My husband is very unkind to me." sobbed a plump woman will) a blue hat and a forgiving disposition.

•'[ am really very fond of him, but — sob—lie raises his arm to me—sob —and sometimes strikes me. I had belter have a separation." "Hill if you are fond of him why not give him another chance?" suggested Mr Gatlie. "No—sob—il will break my heart —son —bul I think I had boiler have a separation." replied the wife, who G/juld forgive no more,

A girl wearing a red hat had trouble with the green-eyed monster.

"There's a neighbour," she complained, "who thinks I am carrying onwilii her husband. She came last night and burst; in my front door, anrl I have not seen him since October." • * * •

She left with a summons and made way for a woman who said she vw = suffering from a man. his wife, and two brothers wtio lived above. "The old man is the worst," she remarked resentfully. "He is 7i, bul the way he runs up and down stairs, bangs doors, and shouts at Hie ton of bis voice is terrible." She, too, paid 2s in exchange for a summons.

Whether James Saunders, a youth of :19, was searching for work or walking away from it will be ascerlained during Hie next few days by Ihe court missionary, who said thai if be was not work-shy he could find Hie youth something to do. He got into a Irani ut Si!lingboi:rn°. with a platform tickel which lie gave up on the platform al, Victoria. "Why did you take a free ride?" asked Hie magistrate. "Because I bad got no mon.-;y and T was fed up with walking." said the youth; and Hie reply seemed conclusive.