BOTH SIDES CAUTIONED.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 6, 6 February 1892, Page 144

BOTH SIDES CAUTIONED.

— * Yoe are accused,’ said the judge to a culprit, ‘of having tired a gun twice within the city limits. Did you kill or cripple anybody ?’ ‘ No, sir.’ ‘ It is a very serious matter to tire off a gun in the city limits and not kill anybody. Don’t you know you are liable to be punished very severely for such carelessness ?’ ‘ Yes, your honour, but there are some very mitigating circumstances. ‘ What are they and how many of them are there ?’ ‘ They are cats, your honour, and from the noise they make I should think there were about a thousand of them.’ ‘ So you are troubled by cats ?’ ‘ Yes, your honour : they worry me nearly to death, and I tired at them twice. That’s how I came to violate the city ordinance. ’ Judge (brightening up) : ‘ Come here, prisoner ; I wish to consult with you confidentially. Tell me, how many did you kill ?’ . . ‘ Three with the first barrel and two with the second. ‘ Splendid ? Glorious ! What size shot do you use when you violate the city ordinance by discharging fire-arms within the city limits ?’ ‘ I use duck-shot ; it fetches them every time. ‘I am glad to hear that. I’ve been using a size smaller when I violated the city ordinance. Would you object to lending me your gun ?’ ‘ 1 will lend it to you with pleasure,’ replied the prisoner ; ‘ but your honour must remember that you are liable to be severely punished if you shoot off a gun inside of the citylimits and do not kill anybody.’ ‘ You can go, but do not let it happen again.’