CRABS IN A CAR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 612, 15 September 1909, Page 5

CRABS IN A CAR.

■-■..'. EX-CONDUCTOR'S JOKE. , 'BEMABKS BY MR. .BISHOP, S.M. Tho incident : of/the ■practical joke played by Constable- Will'ett,' when aVtram-conductor, was further investigated by .the Police Commission (Mr. H;"W. Bishop, S.M.) yesterday afternoon. ■.■..'"■'.'■"' V , '■■■• ' Stuart Richardson, City Tramway Engineer, was- called. He produced the letter written by the. lady on whom the joke , had been played. •'- She stated that when she .tendered; her faro to: Willott, he. said: "What havo you got in your purse?" She looked, and more were two ■'■ crabs... Later on, WiUotts asked -the .writer's- daughter what; she had behind her, and thoro another crab was discovered. Tho lady, also said that Willett. vas-inclincd to bo "insolent tho r sama morning. When; she asked- him' to stop at.Eay Street,,, he said: ';T. r ou mean Straw Street!-' She rang tho bell before - tho" car: Teached Hay Street, , -. and -no thon;said:-"Will,you never know that.tho car stops' , at Hay Street?" V:; ~ ■ ..' -•'■•:■ ■'•;:■.' ■ Witness-.also stated, that.:WUett had-otter-, wards; resigned. Witness did not know- whether inquiries had been made, of him,- when W"; lett the-police. .'■ ■■ ' '■ '; -.-,.-'. :■ ;-. •' .-.Mr.'Bishop',remarked that -Willett had committed what stained to him to,bo a very grave act of incivility, and discourtesy, to.; the public. VVonld'not-witness consider if it was.so?— Yes.

Would you consider he was a fit and proper person to bo a tram conductor?—l, have' 6aid he was not;, ■•'■■■'-■ • ■•'■ "..-'' . ■ .- ; - i What' I want' to get at is whether such stops'were, taken by the police to; ensure that they had tho necessary information to; form an opinion as to whether the man was-a fit and' proper person for- tho police force. It se.oms .to n\e' that'if the Commissioner .waa ;mado aware why the man left tho. employ "of the '< corporation, he might -have, hesitated to enrol him in the force. -, -•■' ... ,• ', - ■'- Mi , . Dinnio: I: say at. once. I. would not .have had him. . - .-.■■ - ; " ':■■■ ■: Mr; Bishop: I am glad to hear it.: You were not, whatever inquiries. were, made, placed in possession ,of the.fullest information. - .■ ■_ :' Martin .Murphy, .sergeant. Mount Cook; said he know . Constable , Willett, and remembered his .application for enrolment. : Witness,, was instructed to make ■ inquiries, and 'he went to Mr.,,-Richardson and asked him what, sort "of a, man- Willett was..- Mr..Richardson' replied;' ".Very- good," and that, he had resigned from: the tramway service; ,': .. ; ..:. ,'.'■"■:■' ;- Mr/vßishop:•'•Are-lybu. , Buro he said, "Very, good?' , —Yes.. ',-.,.., ..: vv; ,, . , ■ ■■.-■;'• '-;; >u'-: '•';'ind- you reported accordingly to-the. Commissioner'?— Yes. .' J'-.;- , " : : -■•'■ .'" ~' : :Was. that all that passed • between you.' and Mr..'Richardson .-. : "' ' ■;■' '.';Are\you.'quito sure you saw., Mi , '. Richardson himself?— Yes. -I had to wait half-an-hour becauso':'he was engaged. , ■■ . ; '~'.•. . "■■ : . Did you tell Mr. Richardson' the reason why you. were,making inquiries?— Yes, I said Willett was. applying .for the polico. force. ..' '.' And you have l no recollection of -this?— Mr.' Richardson:' No,' I have no recollection of it. ■ -What .would you consider your duty in-such a case?—l should , consider it my dutyto.place this , statement ibefore-thorn. . :v ...;.', -Mr'.; Bishop: And'if. you had 'dbne.-.'sp; tho issud would probably have.been, different- ■ ..-.To Mr..Dinnio:.Willott's record, apart from hiVway'of dealing with'passengers, was'good. There was no' other complaint against him. Witness would , not'.'suggest that the sergeant He had d-'great'many*people seeing'Ahim.'.and might havo,forgotten tho interview.- ; ;'.:■.:: :■:■ '-. "'.':-:■:■ ■■. 7 :•-;:•