TOLD THE MAGISTRATE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1928, Page 4

TOLD THE MAGISTRATE.

LONDON, Ecbuary 2. Shoreditch County Court is the moist 'l popular of the East End attractions. Every Tuesday the unemployed crowd the small court recently decorated in cream and green. They collect round the radiator like gossips called round a stove in a Western American local drug store. .'■nine .sit on the Hour because seating accommodation is limited, and respectable tradesmen spend a large part of their luncheon hour in enjoying the v-itl ici'ins nf Judge Cluer.

Other county court judges wear, in 1 imi t:» t’lnburjtu* gowns with mm oi»* Tm-injis, !>ut Jmlgc Cluer, I lie greatest, of them all. wears a black gown that would not bring eighteen panic in a pawnshop. Hit. tin wit a 111 I wi'don ol him are w.-uJ uTiii. liiscniiri is a lei lull chamber for lies. Like Mr Mead, the Hil-yiar-old magi'traie at Marlbocuiigh-uiv.-t, lie never uses lasses. II is blue ovi are as he; a as the eyes of a hoy. ami m> moiicr does his brain reeeivi

Jt impression Dial his longue quickly •b ases it.

•‘Too old at. -lil.” said somebody who di i ii"t know Judge Cluer.

Mere are a few of the tilings lie said .ye.sicn.lay. A girl aged Hi wan run •down by a motor-ear. which broke her ankle. Her solicitor claimed payment el compensation paid into court, and Judge Cluer, granting the request, drily observed: "‘I he only objection to tbo sanction is that it encourages the owners of motor cars to knock down other people.” A solicitor drinking a glass of water at the time was so much amused tit the remark that he gasped and choked and could nut get his,breath until a friendly bn nisi or putted him violently on the hack.

Judge Cluer hates new dollies as the Devil is supposed to hate holy water. Nothing makes him more angry than an application for money paid into court to buy clothes. He likes babies and never turns I hem out of court when they cry. He -says that a child always tells tin I ruth.

A widow came along with a child who was obviously enjoying a Hath him. Tee widow demanded, among ct law sinus, c 1.- for clothes out of a fund paid into touit under the Workmen’s Conipensal ion Act. ‘■('lollies, no.” said Judge ( liier, striking out Ihe ,L' I 5 item. “This applicant would mil spend that amount, on clothes if her husband were Jiving."

An agitated creditor, pleading for •the payment of an £8 ibf’ll. said his debtor lived near Holders (Ireeu and kepi about three servants and his father had tuld him (the creditor) that the debtor was able to pay. “Wlial the soldier said is not rvi ib. nee.” retorted Judge Cluer. qimtii..' from 1 1 1 ■ ■ famous trial of Bartleil I’iekwic!;. “But,” exclaimed the creditor, “hu travels first-class from Westeljff in l.miilnn and I have seen him lose £l2 in 55 minutes at iliemin dc ter."

“Did you win thu £12?” asked the judge. “No, sir,” replied the creditor unctuously. “I play cards, but never for money. And, besides, lie has a motor-car.” “Distrain on the car, and it' it is not worth £8 (the amount of the debt), burn it.” advised the judge. “Here is a woman money-lender who calls herself a financier,'’ observed Judge Cluer. who added: “Why not tinaneieres-s ?”