A TALE OF A THIRST.

NZ Truth, Issue 128, 30 November 1907, Page 6

A TALE OF A THIRST.

And its Direful Consequences.

When some people get on the bust they spend money like water ; they acquire an inordinate thirst, and the more they imbibe the more they require. They are out f^r lush and mean to .get it. When m that condition of mind, a lapse into crime often happens, and the beer chewer finds himself up against a big pro»o---sition m . the police cell. That was the experience of Thomas Man-ion, a small farmer, who hangs out at Weedons, Canterbury. Thomas got on a royal bender and mixed his -drinks, and soon began to think he owned Christchurch, He had money m the bank, but he guzzled it all away during his rorty razzlc, and found himself penniless. It was then that a free and easy method of raising the wind suggested itself to his fevered brain. He wrote out cheque after cheque at hotels and drank the proceeds with a mighty drink. The fact that the cheques were no good didn't trouble him m the least. A wild lot of publicans were touring round after his scalp when Manion committed another act to' break the drinky monotony. He collared Mat Liyingstone's bike. Mat made some cheerful remarks when he missed his machine, and offered up a prayer for the repose of the thief's soul.

MANION WANTED MORE DRINK,

and tried to sell the bike for a couple of quid— it was worth about £12. He even offered it to a 'tec for a couple of notes. Has spree couldn't go on for over on that system, and he was police-celled on a number of charges. He admitted the lot with a sore head, and lawyer Cassidy asked for leniency, as it was the first time Manion had faced the beak, and it was only his frightful thirst that had landed him m trouble. The hike had been returned from Weedons by Manion, who doesn't- seem to have remembered riding it home. Well, his little picnic cost Manion a nice fat roll of notes. He was fined three, (tuid for., bike prigging, ami a quid each on four charges of being handy with, the pen. Also he was ordered io repay the people whom he had so cheekily swindled.. The next time Thomas comes to town he will give those pubs a wide berth.