THE POLICE OUTWITTED.

Dunstan Times, Issue 927, 23 January 1880, Page 3

THE POLICE OUTWITTED.

Two geniuses of the vagabond stamp have lately perpetrate'l in Dunedin, tlie ii'-atest job without at the time making themselves amenable to the laws of the laml that we remember overseeing recorded. —lt appears they held the position of common informers and were smelling out slygrog shanties, and after obtaining a number of cases, their proofs in the shano of sundry bottles containing the forbidden , liqno sb dug duly deposited with the police, and the informations laid, they applied-for an advance of 1.5 on the seeu.ities of tbeir vouchers, but to their amazement tbeir request was refused. This set their brains to work and being sharp witted argued tbuswise. —lf these sly grog-sellers are lined at Court, the amount wall not accrue to us in tolo, but only in part. Let us not wait the slow and tardy process of the law, but at once onrs'-lv, s proceed to judgement. Quick was the thought, sharp Was the action. Hiring a buggy, they drove in state to the nbo 1.-s of the unfortunate*, and at once commenced proceedings. Their style of business was after the m inner of the unjust steward of old ; for. they sai I to their victims, ‘Wc have three charges against you, and we bristle with proofs "f which there can he no gainsay. For each offence von wid he fined L4D at least —in all, 1.12'. Takeout your pivse quickly, folk us nut I 60 ;we will give you a clear receipt, a discharge in full, bv departing from the country.” The s'orekeeper ruminated a bit. scratched his hca I, saw Ids advant age and down went the New Z ahm I notes. Having sneo elel so well in the first case, they precede I tn the next ca-o, and so on til! the h,t was nearly exhausted, and in every case with a like success, (ill L2l)0 was in til dr pockets. The Ro'ooiahana sailed on Sunday, and by the train at 2 p in. these two noble mill led generous men took their departure for Fort Chaim rs, accompanied by several of their gentlytreated friend*, who -aw them saf dy on board the steamer, and breathe more freely did those left behind him when the vessel moved on. There was rushing an 1 racing In Maclaggan street hall I when the news reached home. On, what a sell was there ! An 1 all mi account of that paltry five-poun 1 note. Time it is and of | verity, the bottles are there slid ; hut they I < annot answer for themselves to the Bench. The interpreters have base y deserted them, and they eau only he used, as melt cal comforts.

Nor can ihese sporting gents be Warranted back again from Vieuiri , as no charge lies against them for such disinterested deeds, and the consti ihntors of the spoil will not lay informations against them, as by that means they would waken sleeping dogs. The dealers breathe freely again, and thank their stars that such an idei entered the heads of their persecutors, and that the lucky thought entered their brains of anting as judges and prosecutors at once in their own courts.