FINED BY TELEPHONE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1981, 11 February 1914, Page 4

FINED BY TELEPHONE

• -——» —— ; — . A NEW..YOKK JNXOVimON; , justice by tcloplume is -tho latest innovation in New Vork, and people who- ; huve hitJitirto made invidious comparisons between tho law's delays in the ] States awl the dispatch with which .judgments are delivered in Knglind will now have at least one American modci of which to be proud.. IkiHi; Christmas, Me. Joseph tteall, a'city judge, was not on the H> uch wlieii a yoting couple were brought iu charged with kissing and' lugging in tlm Street, Ordinarily the ■ .pair would have been sent te tJw'wfls for the night, but- the Clerk of the Gaurfc remembered that it was the festive season, and ill a bright moment {says ■ the ''Daily Tclbgifajih 1 ')- decided to ring up tho Judge at 'lns homo and ask liia advice. ,'' - ■ "Is that you, Judge?" asked the Clerk. Pause. "No, tlsefe's nothing dawn lrefo today except two prisoners—ii 3 <xung inan ■ gifl charged with.disorderly conduct. Hardly, worth while yoftr coining ; down, and iVs Christmas Day. Hugging . ■and kissing." A'long pause here. ' The Clerk pist. his hand 'ever tho receiver and hi a land voiec : aikkcsscd the glum-leaking'' prisoners:— . ■ '"Do y<i.ti plead guilty or wot?" The pair hesitated, and then were imiiuucd 1 that if tiicjr! pleaded not guilty they would have to get a lawyer te procure 1 liftii, or niii tho chance of heiuj kept in the eo'lls,, whereas if they pleaded " ■lilty. tiiey niigbt get away to eat their teristmas .ditmers at liomcl "Guilty," said both eagerly. "Guilty,!' repeated the Clerk over the telephone. "Ob, all right. I'll tell ' tlifun. Yes, como : to the 'phone," . The trembling soiuig woman took tiro receiver, and sniff in a faii.it vaiee«— ■ "Hello, Judge, of course# I do. Vou see it Was all a mistake. We were just kissing and hugging, • forgetting thtit anyone eJs'e .Was around and itlF that. ■ .Fifteen sjuliiugs, did you say ? Thank ,■ yati.". The man then took the receiver. "Guilty, Your Honour. Sorry, but J ' guilty. Kit teen shillings. Yes, I have 1 just got- jt." .1 The prisoners paid the finea Slid dc J parted smiling. "It is fortunate lor you.,'' said the Clerk, "that, we are living in- the time. <sf intfdern .iuvcfitions. iilcrry Chmtnus. ' Goou-bye." . »