TO WAR OR GAOL?

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2656, 30 December 1915, Page 7

TO WAR OR GAOL?

PROBLEM. FOR TWO J.P/S RECRUITING IN THE SJ. COURT _ The recruiting • campaign was carried into the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, and for a little while the • Banch threatened to -bargain punishment for patriotism. A big, tough, pugilistic-looking man by the name" of Bartholomew Mahoney stood in the dock charged with being the cause of /an ugly street scene on Monday evening. The police story was that Constable Richard O'Dea noticed Ma-boiley making most extraordinary and objectionable progress along Willis Street. Swinging his powerful arms about /and bumpirfg forcefully into men, womeil, and children who chose to try to walk the same footway, Malioliey clewed a track for himself, and, while everyone -else found the thoroughfare somewhat; crowded, lie found his progress impeded scarcely at all. Coilstable O'Dea, however, proved a serious'obstruction. 1 He had been watching MaWoney awhile, and as soon as lie got aJohgoide took him in hand and piloted,him off towards Manners. Street Polico Station. On the way to Manners Street, Mahoney took' a dislike to walkir/g arin-and-arm -with a policeman. "iic/t go my arm," he said, "and I will come quietly." "I/can't do that," answered the constablo, "beeauso, you are under arrest'.". 'Dliat logic did not appeal'to Mahoney, who set out to back his request with a little physical argument. . O'Dea foiled these efforts with physical resistance, but;he had a weighty opponent to convince. Tho contest interested a crowd, which increased as it progressed like a rolling snowball. ' _By the time the Cuba Street intersection was reached thcro was , such a throng that the, traffic was held up. The trams stopped, and began to pile Up. While the constable rested a moment, Mahoney snatched, his helmet and kicked it away. Most of the crowd were content to look onj but some of them showed _ a disposition to take a hand on the side of Mahoney. When the situation was assuming" a very serious aspect, reinforcements wcro rijshed to the assistance of the constable, and Mahoney was overwhelmed, and locked up. at Manners Street. The charges framed against Mahoney wero disorderly behaviour while drunk and damaging a helmet .to the extent of 9s. 6d. Ho pleaded guilty. Two Justices ivcrc .On tho Bench. They were considering tho matter of punishment when tho need of the moment— "men, more men"—broke in on one of.them, with this result: . Mr. T. Dwan, J.P. (eyeing the bulky Mahoney): Such a fighting man as you show, yourself to be ought to, be a very valuable man at the front. Mr. J. 8.. Speed, J.P.: Yes, perhaps. he would liko' to enlist.. . For the first tirno during the hearing, Mahoney began to display an interest in the proceedings. "What was that Your Worships were Baying?" he asked. "We said that perhaps you would care to enlist," repeated Mr. Speed. "Oh!" said Manoney. "Will,you enlist to join the soldiers if we give yon the chance?" asked the Bench, coming down to a definite proposition. . "If 'you will let me off I will," answered Mahoney, warily. "He wishes to dictate terms, Sub M'Kinnon observed. Mr. Speed: Have,you ever tried to enlist?. i • Mahoney: I. went up to.Buckle Street aboutVa year .ago, and said • I wanted to join. : Theyl said: "What's your age?" I said:".Forty-two or,fortythree." And they told me I was' too ol<l. ' "I doubt if they would take him," said the«Sub-Inspector, who had liist lianded tip Mahoney's record—eightysix previous convictions. "No," reflected the Bench, "I don't suppose they would." ' The negotiations were broken off, and a disappointed-looking Mahoney listened while the Bench said: "On the first charge, you will ,be. sent to gaol for, three months; and a prohibition order will be taken'out against'yon. On the second charge you will bo ordered to pay 9s. 6d., the value of the. helmet, in' default another twenty-four hours' imprisonment."