COURT SCENES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1928, Page 4

COURT SCENES

LONDON, August 2. Claud of Camden Town had raised the banner of the husbands’ revolt.

Mrs. Claud, in a fit temper, broke a. pane of glass in the kitchen window, and Claud promptly called a constable and gave his wife in charge for doing wilful damage to the amount of 4s fid.

Both Mrs. Claud and the constable were dazed at the charge, hut Claud insisted that if a wife can charge her husband a husband may charge his wife, and as Mrs.. Claud had broken the law by breaking the window she must take the consequences. “That’s the law right enough, come along, missus,” said the policeman. Mrs. Claud was still suffering from the shock of surprise when she appeared in the dock at Clerkemvell Police Court on Saturday, and her surprise was shared by Mr. Dummett, the magistrate.

Claud meant well but he hid not understand that in the eyes of the law a wife can do no wrong. “You understand,’’ said the magistrate, “that if you press this charge you will have to pay the fine and the cost or the damage.” “I suspected there was a snag somewhere,” said Claud bitterly, and Mrs. Claud smiled a Mona Lisa smile as she left the dock.

No/ting the smile Mr, Dummett remarked sharply, “Don’t you smash any more panes of glass.”

Often I hare thought that the binding power of the oath in the police courts has little moral value, hut never have I seen a more cynical attitude than was shown in the case of two Hindoo chefs. Mahomed Ahr.fl.ham, of the slender figure and sharp features, was accused of stealing the clothes of Mr. Singh, his superior in the same restaurant.

“You can’t swear on the Testament,'’ observed the usher when Mr. Singh went into the witness-box.

“Oil, yes, I can swear on anything,” replied Mr. Singh cheerfully. “Let him swear on the dictionary.” suggested the magistrate faeetiosl.v. Mi'. Singh told a straightforward narrative of how his clothes had been taken from his lodgings by Mahomed wlrtn he gave in charge.

When it came to Mahomed’s turn to take the oath he startled the usher by dealaring that ho was a Catholic, and he proceeded to tell a highly dramatic tale of how Mr. Singh was afraid that 1m would lose his job through his (Mahomed’s) superior skill in cooking, lienee the vamped up charge.

Under Mr. •Drummett’s cross-exam-ination,' however, Mahomed’s picturesque Eastern story grew thinner, and tinner until not a thread of the rich

fabric remained. He was convicted am) remanded for inquiries and sentence.

Money, says the old saw, has separated the hast of friends, and with the assistance, of P.C. 589 S money separated Alfred from the friend of bis youth. “You don’t understand this case,” remarked Alfred to the magistrate. “Oh, give me time,” pleaded Mr. Dummett. “My friend is a wrong ’nil, he’s a scoundrel,” continued Alfred indignantly. “He tried to- get some lr.oir y out of me, and because I would not give it to him he hit me. I was giving him the change when the policeman eante." "I understand the ease thoroughly now,’’ said the magistrate. “You loose 10s.”