POWER HOUSE MYSTERY.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 773, 6 October 1922, Page 5

POWER HOUSE MYSTERY.

TRIAL OF THE ALLEGED CULPRIT. (By Gat NoulcL) The trial of the alleged culprit, Printer’s Devil. alias G. Rainger, took place in the morgue (sorry, I should, say the rest room) of the City of Pu’kekohe on Saturday night last. Being the first occasion on which this commodious and imposing edifice was publicly used, a short ceremony preceded the unlocking of the door.. The Chief Magistrate, in a few ill-chosen remarks., said it was deplorable that this magnificent building* should’ be put to such a base use as the trial of a scoundrel, but that he did not give a “Tinkers Damn.” scoundrels must be punished, and no other budding was available for the purpose. (At this juncture the arc light upoq which the lighting of the city depended, to with the moon, wenti under a cloud and' the whole’ multitude were in utter darkness). )ihe keyhole becoming lost, the services o|f Herlock Sholmes were commandeered; entrance was effected and candles lit. The Chief Magistrate made for the pulpit (soriy. the bench), but counsel for the prisoner objected', as he was thq chief witness for the prosecution, It was then agreed that Mr Sea Kale, who was in the audience, should 'take the seat of judgment. The prosecution was entrusted to Mr U. B. Dam and Mr Serve Em Right was duly empannelled, after several appeared for the prisoner. The jury challenges to fight had been dealt with. The Town Prosecutor. in his address to the jury, emphasised the fact that this was one of the most heinous crimes perpetrated in the history of the city ; that no other crime could be placed in the same category as that of tampering with people’s’ lights by unqualified and incompetent people ; that only qualified and registered members of the medical profession had any- shadow of right to deal with people’s lights and liveks, therefore the duties of the jury would be light (not lights. .Cheer's (from the audience* which were quickly suppressed by the caretaker). The prisoner, who had' pre_ viously pleaded “Not Guilty,” collapsed at this stage, and was only brought too after ‘a douche from Hickey’s dam. The first witness to be examined was the Chief Magistrate,. who deposed that owing to frequent from Messrs Objector, Pinprick and Dirtydog ' regarding the failure of the power house to supply the light fot which they j fid and also because a rumour was gaining ghound that he was in league with opticians to strain the optics of residents for the benefit of these gentlemen, he decided to have an investigation made, and that he would like to sta|te at this stage that the rumour mentioned had no (foundation in fact, that residents need not fear for their sight, she result of the investigations would be revealed by other witnesses. From a flying visit he paid to the power house one week-end when in residence in the city he could obtain no information himself, except that he saw one engine wliich appeared to be tirecL, but in his opinion it had joined the extreme labour party and the tired’, bolt yarn was a lark, this action on the part of the engine was probably due to bad treatment received In cross-examination, he resented’ being termed incompetent and failed to see why his staff should be so branded,, by attempt to belittle men who were trying to do so much in the name of science. He did not know the prisoner, and until the arrest did not know that Mr Printer’s Devil resided in the city. The only person he knew of that name resided in Hell-ensvjlle. He had often, read about him. (As any further examination would probably only lead to more sulphurous language being used, the witness was orderdd: to retire. This order was greeted by the audience with cheers, as they thought it meant “retire from office.’ )

The chief of police and the lady constable detailed the circumstances under which the prisoner was arrested, and said that the confession was obtained by threats, .in consequence vt could not be put in as evidence.

Mr Serve Em Right then addressed the jury on prisoner’s behalf. He pointed out that from time immemorial the devil had been, and was still being blamed, [for everything that went wrong, especially in cases of this kind where eiecflric fluid was in question. it had been held tnat such uncanny things as electric power and works of mystery were of the devil In this case he denied the statement and belief. He traversed the whole histdry of the city’s so. -called electric light system and claimed' that the residents had been successfully brow beaten and driven to accept what the powers that be gave them and without a murmer In fact they were rather proudl oi the system and assisted it all in their power with candles and kerosene. {Then a stranger arrived in their midst who understood' all about currents and who demanded raisons for everything. He threatened! that unless’he got value for the money he paid he would raise cain and hurle all the epithets in the dictionary at the chief citizen of out’ city. It is an established fact that he approached a medical man visiting here to enquire if he would be correct fin stating that the Council had appendices, which he understood meant an inflamed erid. He was informed that appendictus was not an epithet and advised to search the. electrical engineers’ hand-book, published by the Funny Cuts Proprietory, but as he was in danger of being routed if he followed the advise he thought it best to apply to a dean for the information. Unfortunately there is no cleric of that rank residing in the city, and his enquiries have ceased if or the time being. In the meantme, the prisoner fearing that some deep plot was being hatched which would cause a flare up 'in the city’s power house, and in his ignorance of electricity believed such flare would irun along the wires and probably ignite the residence of the Chief Magistrate (not knowing that

his premises were not connected), decided to prevent the calamity by earthing the whole of the current by means Otf a ball of twine and a reel. Unfortunately for him Herlock" Sholmes hacl been approached to in clearing up the mystery of the power house smash, and although he, Mr Sholmes, had discov. ered the real culprit, he was moved to depart from his usual straight course- and get one back on to the prisoner in 'revenge for incorrect reports published in the paper in the pa*t. Therefore having heard! a whisper at 11 a.m. one Sunday morning that the prisoner had been overheard to say that he intended to take some steps to checkmate the designs of evilly disposed persons, he, Sholmes, informed the authorities as per previous reports published and caused the arrest of prisoner. Mr Serve Em Right appealed to the jury to disabuse their minds of anything they read; or heal'd relating to the prisoner’s connection with the matter at the same time! to recall the advertisement over the signature of one J. Routley, which is the name off the principal witness, where he states that he did not know the prisoner ; that ha d;id not know a pointer’s devil or any of his colleagues resided in the city. This statement absolutely clears the prisoner, and the jury are asked to bring in a verdict in his favou*. His Honour, in summing up, said there was no doubt in his mind but that the prisoner was a real hero and a worthy resident of the city, inasmuch that alone and without flourish of trumpets he took steps which averted a terrible catastrophy such as would probably have occurred had the electrical energy of such a highly power, ed, well-equipped and efficiently maintained and operated power house been spread broadcast over the reticulated area. He concurred in the remarks of the prisoner’s counsel. The jury, without a second’s hesitation, brought in a veidict of “not guilty,’’ and the prisoner was discharged amidst cheers from the audience At a subsequent meeting held in the local house of refreshment the health of the late prisoner was drunk with three times three. He was also presented with the freedom of the city, elected an orphan also crowned king; of the carnival, for whom collections will be taken up later.