“I DID IT.”

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1921, Page 3

“I DID IT.”

ONLY A PENNY LEFT, DESTITUTE MAN AT POLICE STATION. As Constables Hargraves and Duke w#iv quietly meditating on the peaeciillness of that winter’s eve in the warm comfort of the Auckland police station, there came a crash and a smash, and a thud to their startled ears. A shower ol glass amPa hurtling siene indicated the occasion, and tile cold air from outside swept in through a broken window to dispel the indoor snugness of police headquarters. Constable Hargraves went to the watehlioiise door, and there came to him a man who said, "I did it!” | "Come Inside,” said the ollieer, and the stranger entered, and told his tale before the lire, lie was out of work, destitute—and desperate. "My name is Harry Brown,” lie-said, •i plying to the not unkindly questions of the officers of the law. "I am a lative of England. 12 years of ago. I j ■ avo been in New Zealand for the past IA years. I am a labourer by oeeupa.ion. I was last in employment as ouseaboiit to a fanner named Sin Im, near Waitara. I left there a month igo, as the job had finished. 1 had hen to. I have tramped about the •onnt.ry ever since looking for work, \ itiKiut success. I came to Auckland in 1 fit 1 1 i nst from Masiorton. I tried iard to obtain work here, hut failed. I ■ tayed In si night at a house in Hobson .fleet, paving my way there. 1 bad I'd eft this morning, and had a cup ol tea uul cakes. This left me one penny. I ramped about the city to-day looking *, ; i- a job. I attended the meeting ol lie unemployed in the city. It was not hat fact which made me break tins window. I had made up my .mind to jack my swag again to-day and go hack nto the country; hut what’s the use? or tilings are as had for work there as ,hey are in the city. So I made up my iiiml to be locked up to get away Irom I|,e bad weather. I came up here and found a stone just outside. 1 could not think of any other way to get locked ip.” Brown, at court, was ordered to pay Jss cl«virinses, or to n toutnight. As bo had no money hut fenny, lie went to gaol. |