An Impromtu Police Court.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 25 March 1890, Page 2

An Impromtu Police Court.

The Minister of Justice has issued instructions to the effect that daring the harvest months, Justices are to be put to as little inconvenience as possible, and that the police are to take miid caseground to the Justices' residences. Some, amusing instances occur. Here is one that happened within a hundred . miles of Mount Egmont The popular constable with a delapidated case stopped at the door i of John Blank, Esq., J.R., but find, ing that Mr Blank was out in the field harvesting, he hied him thither with his charge and found him busy stoofcing. Well, said His Worship, what have we this morning ? Constable— A bad case, your "Worship. Mr B— Well I am not dressed for a serious case and I haven't time to go home. Here sonny, (to little boy) go home and tell your mother to send down my ooat that I go to the Court in, and the collar that I had on at the inquest the other day. (To the prisoner) — Now Mike, just to keep you ont of mischief, come along and lend me a hand with the stooking until the boy comes back. (But the boy evidently knew what he was about, and he did not hutry baak ; however when he did tnrn up, at the end of an hour or so, it dit not take Mr Blank long to get into his robes ot office, and take his seat upon a pile of sheaves that the bobby had meanwhile arranged, to do duty as a bench.) " Silence " warned the constable and proceeded to reed the charge indicting Michael O'Shea with being drunk and disorderly in a public place. Tha Court — Prisoner at the bar, you are charged with a most serious offeree, to wit, being drunk and disorderly in a public place, how do you plead, guilty or not guiJty? Prisone— •• Not guilty, " your Hononr. The Court — Swear the constable. Constable -But I have not a book here your Worship. j The Court— Never, mind the book, j take the oath, and you can smell the book when you ..go back to the station. (Constable takes the oath) The Court — Was the prisoner very drunk ? Constable— Bnstely, sir, bastely. The Court— Was the prisoner very disorderly also ? Constable-*Mosi outrageous, your Honour. Prisoner — May ■„' J ; : withdraw the plea ot not guilty, ydur .Worship ? The Court— Have you any objection constable ? ..,:.;: Constable— Not in^he least, your Worship. The Court— Very a well prisoner, how do you plead now ? Prisoner— •' Guilty " your Honour. The Court— Very well, you are fined five shillings. . Prisoner —But see the work I did that ought to he consideredConstable— Silence in Court. The Court— Not at all ; look at me wasting my time hero sitting on you. I don't fret paid for that. Prisoner - Then I won't pay it. The Court— Prisoner at the bar, you are fined five bob, which you will p»y in five minutes or you will return from whence you came for twenty-four hours, and may the Lord have mercy on yoa for I won't. Prisoner— Then you are no gentle Constable — Silence in oourt. The Court- Remove the prisoner. The court is closed. [The prisoner was, with tho help of the small boy, removed with difficulty, loudly proclaiming that he would not pay j John Bull.