A London Beggar.

Manawatu Herald, 29 March 1894, Page 2

A London Beggar.

Tho Home correspondent of the N.Z. Times relates the following : — I was persuaded to enter the Court j presided over by Mr Hannay, and I spent and hour pleasantly enough. Chief of the batch of small cases [ disposed of during that time wa3 a I charge of begging against an old soldier named James Kennedy. If this individual had devoted his undoubted talents of persuasion to canvassing for an insurance company, or to the selling of useless articles to thrifty housewives, instead of to begging, he would to-day have been a rich man and a respected member of society. He is a " fine figure of a man," tall and straight, as becomes one who has served his Queen and country, but he has a reprehensible habit of begging from members of the Service Clubs. Kennedy, it seems, is so full of anecdotes of the various campaigns in which the officers he approaches has served that he usually obtains alms. Of course if his intended victim is a Tenth Hussar man Kennedy -was also in " the dear old Tenth," and if a Coldstream officer, Kennedy served under him in such and such campaigns. For begging purposes, indeed, the old lip could accommodate himself to any regiment -■* in the British army, and conid make his tale good and stand with credit such cross examination as an occa sion:il careful dispenser of alms would subject him to. Kennedy lost hi? pen-ion through falling into iho hnndrs of the police, and of the' last nineteen years of his life he has spent no fewer than seventeen in gaol in short sentence terms, so the goaler stated. When put into the dock on Monday to answer another accusation of mendicity, Kennedy saluted Mr Hannay in the regulation style and stood to " Attention." •• Kennedy," said the Magistrate stei'nly, " I am very sorry to see you,.here again. I don't like to see you here again. I don't like to see the same faces here time after time for it shows the remedies I try are not effective." "Sir!" replied the hoary old sinner, with a further salute, " You are Buch a fascinating gentleman that one can't help coming frequently to see you." The Court roared, the policeman made horrible grimaces in their endeavour to keep the regulation look of dignity on their faces, and the Magistrate could not help laughing outright. " If you are going to flatter me ,1 think you had better be off at once, and I sincerely hope I shan't see you here again." " Bless me," remarked James pleasantly, " I trust your Worship isn't thinking about resigning?" "Be off I" cried Mr Hannay, vainly endeavouring to conceal his amusement, and Kennedy saluted, and marched out of Court, winking en route to the various members of the force. Considering his previous convictions, a very long " black list '* they make, the old chap could scarcely have expected to be so leniently dealt with. But be , exhibited no surprise at his. let off, and probably knew that his age (he is within a few months of 80) would plead for him as well as his glib tongue. '