MR LLOYD GEORGE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1930, Page 7

MR LLOYD GEORGE

PRESIDES AT QUARTER

SESSIONS

LONDON, Jan. 24.

Mr Lloyd George, tlie new chairman of tlie County of Caenarvon Quarter Sessions, sat to-day as a judge in the court where, 33 years ago, he won his last ease as an advocate.

The old county hall, situated opposite the splendid castle, was crowded. Never have I seen so many magistrates eii one bench. Dame Margaret Lloyd George, herself a. magistrate, sat near her husband, while from a gallery reserved for women and girls -Miss Megan Lloyd George beamed on her parents. , Keenly alert and interested in every detail of the solemn ritual which marks the opening of the Quarter Sessions, Air Lloyd George was at borne on the Bench, where he promises to be tolerant in his judgments and lemcift in his sentences.

The speech of welcome delivered by Mir Charles Jones, the senior solicitor, moved Air Lloyd George to express the abiding sense of pride lie felt at the honour conferred upon him. Reference: wns made to his knowledge of the Welsh language, which will enable him to follow the evidence of witnesses who think in Welsh.

While a grand jury composed mainly of Joneses was returning true bills against four prisoners—three changed with petty larceny and one with obtaining credit by fraud and passing worthless cheques—-Air Lloyd George was welcoming Judge Arte mu* Janes as vice-chairman of the Quarter Sessions and assisting to appoint magistrates,

“CALL THE FIRST.”

Brisk and business-like, the Great War Prime Minister put zest into the ceremony and twirled his steel-rimmed eyeglasses. He announced cordially: “Now you might call the first prisoner.”

From below came Samuel William Dew, aged 70, somewhat deaf, .but completely- unpertu rbed.,' A 1 small-man, wi th' th e i nil been,t - expression>of/ a l , iiijjisb understood ,■ child,' he/ has .30 •.•cbii.vdc-ij Lions, and a fading moustadip.;. :.,. ; i . U nti 1 he i’ was , 38. : fau’m nek !;'AV illi am, was/ a’, ship’s ;<stewar,dj but, for fh'e'.'.lnst 30 gears'.lie Inis' been/busily .epiploypd getting' 1 into "prison. 1 ~ He.' has' v d<!>ne many/ things' . lie - ought - hot ;to ' have dche,. .'from • -'-burglary;,to / begging,' - but no sppnp-r does „he commit anoffence than: he gives himself up to, the pofi'ce.

His last oi-iine was, to." steak, /a barometer from a school in'Bangor, and an hour afterwards, be ~went up to Constable Samuel Jones apd/..exclaimed: “Officer, .piffe-st -me! - .I’ve stolen a .barometer' / V The police' would'-’be .satisfied iff.be was sent to the workhouse, but he seems to prefer prison to the workhouse, said the prosecuting solicitor. Air Lloyd ' George’s eyes twinkled,, and thrusting forward his head—-a mannerism familiar to members of the House of Commons—lie smiled at Samuel William, who replied with a cheery no-d. ,

‘‘The old chap looks well for 70,” remarked Mr Lloyd George to Dame Margaret. “I think we ought to give him another chance. ” Samuel William smiled, but the smile waned when Mr Lloyd George inquired if he would go to the Valley Wgrkhouse for a year. “I will give you my word of honour, Lloyd Georg’, that I will go to the workhouse on one condition,’’ he replied. ‘‘Let me have two or three days to spend what money I have .left and 1 will do your bidding.” ‘‘But let me tell you, Lloycl George, the Valley is a very awkward place. 1 can get in prison what you can’t get in the workhouse—lectures, concerts, a magic-lantern, and decent food—but the Valley Workhouse' is next door to Womb well’s Menagerie. You are a clever man, Lloyd George, and you will see what I mean.” “All,’’ said Mr Lloyd George, shaking his eyeglasses at the prisoner, “what will you be doing during those Iwb or three days of freedom? If 1 let you go until Monday will you promiso to keep out of mischief?”

OFF FOR “A GOOD TIME.”

An inspector shouted the chairman’s question into the ear of Samuel William, wh®> joyously exclaimed: “God bless Lloyd George! Give him three cheers! I’m going to have !' a good time between now and Monday in Bangor, and then (sadly) I'll go to the Valley.”

“You have a tremendous, record. You have spent most of'.your time in His Majesty’s service,” remarked Mr Lloyd George, who, turning to the assembled magistrates, observed: “1 think he ought to bo examined by a doctor. The man seems to like prison.”

Samuel William, who departed from the tiny clock to sow his last wild oats, is not exceptional in his. preference for prison over the workhouse. Many times I have heard old offenders—men and women—ask to be sent to prison when they have been ordered into the institution.

Samuel William was ‘deeply grieved because he could no‘go to gaol, but such was his devotion to. Mr Lloyd George that he would break the habit of a life-time and for twelve months endure a place he bated.

“Queer cases you . get in tlieso courts,” mused Mr Lloyd George. “Bring up the next one.” Samuel William was well on his way to his final Hing at Bangor when Mr Lloyd George went to luncheon.