Mock Trial

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 April 1915, Page 4

Mock Trial

TO AID THE BELGIANS

ChrLstchurch, April 18,

A mock court was a feature of the Belgian festival yesterday. A large force of policemen, dressed up for the most part in blue dungarees, and wearing soldier's helmets, scoured the ground throughout the day and arrested "well-known citizens" by the shoal These "offenders" were haled before a court, which sat in a small tent and dispensed summary justice, fining each offender according fto his apparent means, without the option.

To swell the funds, a "Barker" stood at the door and invited the populace to enter. He was most persuasive "Only sixpence to hear the charge." he bawled, and the crowds flocked in to see the ends of justice served. The judge wore a grotesue mask, surmounted by a wig wMh big ear-flaps. In his decisions, he reminded one of Judge Jefferies and the Bloody Assize. Each culprit was lugged, struggling or peace able, into a little sheep-run kind of affair tfiat led to the dock, where he was formally charged with some misdemeanour to suit local circumstances.

One of the first arrests was that of Mr H. "W. Bishop. S. M. This was regarded as a great coup, and he was promptly charged with loitering, and fined proportionately. Mr A. B. Bailey S. M., was also apprehended, and then a strong posse of police brought in Superintendent Dwyer, who was •desscribed as an old offender, with 999 previous convitcions. His police unifrom did not save him, and he was heavily mulcted for his lapse. Mr F. Thompson, general manager of the tram ways, was charged with refusing to run the trams after midnight. He was fined and admonished. One very old farmer, who seemed to be in some doubt as to the ground for his arrest, was charged with refusing to vote, for his own condidate. He still looked like protesting, until he was fined 2s 6d. when he loosened up with a smile of relief. The process went on all day. Some of the fines were large and some small They were all taken in good part, althrough the proceedings were somewhat of the piratical order. However the judge, who was indentifiable by his voice as Mr H. D. A eland, the wellknown lawyer, tempered the wind t< the shorn lamb, and altogether showed a wise discretion in making the punishment to fit the crime. As the court sat continuously, witli only half-an-honr's adjournment for luncheon, and the fines were never lower than lialf-a-crov.n. the revenue j must have been enormous.