THE SEAMY SIDE.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17168, 2 August 1927, Page 10

THE SEAMY SIDE.

TALES TO MAGISTRATE.

10S NOTE THAT NOBODY OWNED.

(By R. E. Corder in London Daily Mail.) BELFAST, Juno iG.

The difference in temperament between Northern and Southern Ireland is reflected in the Belfast and .Dublin police courts. ' Both are equally efficient, but methods anu manners differ vastly. t Procedure here in Belfast resembles that-in force in Liverpool, where the case for the Grown is conducted by a responsible police officer. In Dublin the constable on guard who makes the arrests examines his own witnesses. •The Belfast system is smoother and quicker, but the Dublin method,. being more intimate, suits the mentality of southern offenders. Police court discipline is much more stern in Belfast than in Dublin, where, however, easy manners do not mean any laxity in justice. The Belfast police, like the old R.I.C, arc a semi-military force, armed with revolvers and batons, and, physically, they arc among the finest and smartest police in the world. Between the resident magistrates of Belfast and the stipendiary magistrates of Dublin there is nothing to choose. Both know their business, which includes a deep knowledge of human nature.

Mr P. J. O'Donoghue, who sat in the night-charges court to-day, is a genial man with merry eyes and a quick tongue, which is needed to deal with the" ready wits of the Belfast advocates.

"Snatcher" McCrackcn, a little man not yet middle-aged, has been convicted 32 times, chiefly for pocketpicking, as his nickname implies. Noticing a man who had taken drink swaying and beaming whole he waited for a tramway-car in High Street, the "Snatcher" embraced him affectionately'round the waist and deftly explored his hip pocket. "And isn't lie a friend of mine?" declared the "Snatcher" when an observant constable wanted to know the reason for the affectionate demonstration.

The "Snatchcr's" victim fervently remarked that any friend of the policeman was his friend and departed with the salutation: "Goo' night; 'smy car."

"The police are always taking liberties with me," wailed the "Snatcher," when District-Inspector Scott had read out his record. "I only came out of prison last week and now I am going back for doing nothing. gentleman had no money on him.". The "Snatchcr's" prophecy was right. He went to prison for three months.

Golf balls like eggs are difficult to identifv. A constable found Hugh crouching in the club grounds of the Fort William golf links. "Balls were coming over the hedge," said the officer, and one was retrieved by Hugh, who put it in his pocket. "Have vou the players here to identify the ball?" demanded the magistrate. "No, but wc have the secretary of the club," replied District-Inspector Scott. "The balls belong to the players, not to the club," observed Mr O'Donoghue. 'Tm sitting very tight," remarked Hugh's solicitor complacently, ••Literally or melophoricalty?" Inquired a facetious colleague. ,"W« can't identify the ball," lamented Dieirict-InHpector Scott, "A bloodies:} victory," triumphantly declared Hugh's solicitor, us his client was discharged.

Wrapped in silent meditation and a black shawl, Katharine Shannon made her 202nd appearance in the old'familiar dock, secure in her position as one of the oldest and most regular offenders in the city. She spoke no word an<s gave no sign on being fined the usual 40s.

Minnie was stopped in Albert Bridge Road by an officer who asked her if she knew anything about a missing 10s note. "She said she didn't, but she began fufi'ling in her coat." "Fufflihg," exclaimed the magistrate, "1 never heard the word before. How do you spell it?" "F-u-m-b-1-i-n-g," explained the clerk. "Yes, sair," continued the constable, "and 1 a'los note dropped to the floor. She said it did not belong to her." • As there was no prosecutor Minnie was discharged. "Regarding the 10s note?" asked District Inspector Scott. "Give it to her," ordered the magistrate, indicating the departing Minnie. "But she said it was not hers," submilted the inspector. "Ah well, keep it for the present," said the magistrate.

I appreciated the predicament, for in law that 10s note does not exist.

Following the note which nobody owned we had the stove which nobody wanted. "Where is it?" inquired the magistrate. "Outside the court, it Is too heavy to bring inside," explained a detective' "I saw it with the defective," observed a painter and decorator who did not want it. "Have you seen it this morning?" asked the magistrate. "No? Well, go outside .and look at it."

Reluctantly the painter and decorator went outside, looked at the stove, accompanied by a detective who saw him do it, and returned to the court more convinced than ever that this stove and piping was the last thing on earth he yearned to possess, view, or hear about. There was some mystery about that, stove 1 could not fathom, as there was no evidence offered against the man in whose company it bad been found. Apparently it is the sort of stove that burns to get honest people into trouble.

Annie is a young domestic servant who took two places but did not leave them as she found U*ern,.to the extent of £l7 worth of toilet articles. For an amateur in theft she made a clean job of it. Still another case of vanity, the besetting weakness of .most young girls who come to court and who, like Annie, get another chance through the influence of the women missionaries. •

How traps are set by detectives of the General Post Office was related during the prosecution of a telegraphist and sorter. Many complaints had been received from Belfast of registered letter thefts and an officer of the General Post Office in London arrived hero to set a snare.

Having taken the numbers of two £1 notes and written his initials in indelible ink on four stamps, he placed them in a registered envelope which first went to Fleetwood, was returned marked "Not claimed," and then posted at the Belfast General office. Next morning the London officer confronted the suspected sorting clerk and telegraphist, who, on being searched, disclosed, it was said, the notes and stamps, and he was committed for trial.

I have experienced in other cases the patient and thorough methods of the Post Office in combating attacks made on its reputation for efficiency and Bc'curttjt* '