THE SEAMY SIDE.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17326, 11 February 1928, Page 5

THE SEAMY SIDE.

TALES TO MAGISTRATE, j I MOTOR CAR THAT WALTZUi ] - | (By R. E. Corder, in London Daily Mail.) ; Holly and mistletoe shonld hive decorated the dock at Bow Street Police Court yesterday, all the charges were a direct result of the Christmas spirit. There was nothing serious, but much that was humorous, and for once the stem severity of the premier court was relaxed. The polite gaoler exchanged the compliments of the season with several of his “olients,” and even' constable made generous seasonable allowance for his prisoner. The star turn of the police court pantomime was Guardsman William Johnson, who at half-past ten 'on Thursday night was in mufti and a two-seater motor car which he had found or borrowed. Guardsman Johnson was driving, and he had as passengers three soldiers in uniform and two women friends. A constable controlling traffic at the junction of Wellington St. was so fascinated by the erratic driving of Guardsman Johnson and the joyous carol singing of the Guardsman’s companions that he held up the traffic to get a better view. Guardsman Johnson, flattered by the attention, proceeded to do more tricks with the borrowed two-seater than can be seen even in the Olympia circus. He spilled his passengers (still singing) into the road, waltzed the car round the Strand, and finished up on the pavement outside a shop that was offering a choice selection of Christmas gifts. Guardsman Johnson, who was given an excellent character by a Guards officer, did not attempt to explain. He cheerfully admitted he was guilty, and added that he could not remember a thing that happened; and Mr Fry, the magistrate, sent him to prison for 28 days in the second division. The only thing that worried Guardsman Johnson was that he could not remember where he got the car. * * * * Betty, the brunette, smacked the face of a young Scottish policeman, who was too much of a gentleman to charge her with assault. Kitty, the blonde, arrested by a Lancashire constable, merely remarked. it was very unseasonable weather. Both women had been ejected from public-houses for singing out of their turn. Thomas, who was wearing a tie obviously presented to him by a woman friend, went up to a policeman and observed: “I read about you in the papers.” “Possibly,” agreed the officer, shading his eyes from the glare of Thomas’s tie. . . - - - “I like all policemen,” continued Thomas, clutching the constable for support. “Gome with me and I’ll introduce you to lots of us,” said the constable. And he did.