THE RAY IN THE GLOOM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1681, 22 February 1913, Page 7

THE RAY IN THE GLOOM.

COMEDY IN COURT. "CAN'T LEAVE A COUNTRY IN A MINUTE." Sordid and drab as tlid Potico Court is it. has its lighter momenta. The rare moments'are generally created by something >vbich appeals to ono's ronso of the ridiculous. Ono of tlieio rnritie'a' shot like a golden ray through yesterday's un. wholesome James Doyle, tho Wellington City Corporation's inspector; proceeded' againat a middle-aged man for h'avihg eufte'red ah oflenaivo sniell. to ariso from eome premises of which he held the key. Mr. E. M. Beechcy appeared as counsel for tho corporation, aii<l ho remarked 'to Dr. M'Arthur, • S.lt., who was on tho bench, that tho defendant had been b'rought'fo'rward on this charge previously, and tho caso had been adjourned because tho defendant, whose habits had made him a nuisance, for years, had promised to leavo tho country. The inspector could not get into tho house, but a look through a window niado.it appear, that a little of tho. .rubbish had been • removed. llowotor, tho smell was still 'there. ■, Tho defendant strolled up to within a couplo of yards of. tho Magistrate, and leaning familiarly "against tho clerk's bench, patronisingly. addressed his Worship: "Give' ine another chance?" he asked. .Dr. M'Arthur: No; I have Veen too Boffc : with you. > T"he defendant: Yes; you have been very good. . , Mr. Beechey: There is no power in tho by-law to condemn and destroy this man, so I suggest that you should ,fine him. tho maximum. .. ■ ... ■ . ' Tho defendant; Thursday will do. I will get out'then.:' -J. : V. Dr. M'Arthur: No, no! 'No'more delays. . ■ Air. Doylo: He. has been promising me for twenty years, ffe is, no doubt, a danger... ■ Dr. M'Arthur: Ob, yes, ho is. Ton are, defendant, though you 1 may not know it. Mr. Doyle and the. City \ Council ;have been mort lenient with you■, and I have limn almost '.criminally lenient witli you. Defendant: I give you my word of honour. . '■■ ■ ' ; Dr. M'Arthur: Yes—your word of. honour. ' . ':'. ' Jlr. Beeohev: Atay I read his previous convictions? . i- '•> Dr. M'Arthur (appealingiy): iAre you going 'to' rend 'all of .thom? v - Mr.'Beechoy: Well, the total amount he hits been fintd is between i!2O and JE3O. . ". Defendant:' ! will givo you the key on Thursday. . ' ! ... '... ' > .'. Dr. M'Arthur: 1 don't want the key. Defendant: This i 9 the last chanco I will ask for..' ■- Dr. .M'Arthur: Yes, but we can't bring_ you up to the knocker. Defendant: Yes, you can, because I am leaving tho country. . .." / V Dr. M'Arthur: Wl!i then, we won't be able to. j "Leaving the Vxmnfcry" is what you told ine last time. : , Defendant: Well, you,know what .it is. leaving a country. You can't get'away ih a minute, ' /. ' Dr. M'Arthur: Oh, I see, your friends wdll be annoyed if vou did riot..say.good-' bye to them.... You nave h lot of friends. •De'fendant (evidently , thinking it; ; was. his .Worship, who nad "the lot of friends"): Yes, your .Worship, you', make Jvarself.iso popular.' ', Dr. 31'Arthnr ::1 think you' have kissed the blarney. stone.i''' ; His Worship 'said that ho would fine defendant ''J2lO, and. dMendant made Jome remark ■ about the exercise of common sen'st. ...' ...,' . :, Dr; M'Arthur: Hiit commonisense won t •shift yoli. ' Yoii '.hive got. 'into...a rotten, sort' 'of business, iroii. know; Have you any goods to distrain on?. , ; ... Di M'Arthur: What about the things in tho)h"ouf«?. .'. Defendant: Thfet. a^-fold;;-', '■ Mr"' Beechey sAidJtlidfc.if-'defendant t Defendant: I'don't, want you to get the, them where the , key was.they could get it.; , key. The man wants to come up for the '■'stuff.. v'.'' : ' Pr: M'Arthur: Oh, tho stuff, is sold, is.it?' ; ; : : " Defendant: Y6& t ./■Dr. M'Arthur:,A;. problematical sale. ' Defendant: No., : . ~' '- , Dr. M'Arthur: Then you have the mt'ney for it? ■ ... ';. Defendant: Yes. ■' ,' ; Dr. M'Arthur: Oh, well. I'll fine yon risht awnv. You are convicted .and fined £\o:' : .Defendant.: Make, it Thursday. .'"Dr. M'Mthiir: Oh, no, you Said Wed.nefdny n.'litlli wliilo.ago. r ' DefeVulaiit: Just, to oblige yon.,' . ;,Dr. M'Artlitir: To oblige inn! Well, my 'wish.is that yon get ont.oll "Tuesday,. . DefeiiiUiit:, All right—riiesdav highf. ... " Dr. -. M'Arthur .l (Uifeliini): Very , well, yon'vo sot up till midnicht. "•Mr;. DoylV: It is a pity -jbh -could .hot make the default three'years, your W6rship.; ' . .'-