A CLASH OF CABBIES.

NZ Truth, Issue 135, 18 January 1908, Page 4

A CLASH OF CABBIES.

A BATTLE ON THE RANKS. One as Bad as the Other. When a cabby falls out with a tram conductor the conflict is ferociousj but when two horse persuaders agree to differ there is the very devil to pay. Blanky, for some reason or another, seems to be the special perquisite of the hullocky and the cab-driver, and ,some luminous remarks float upon the ambient atmosphere at times. It is over a month since Tom Lane and Tom Corbett tried to get ahead of each, other opposite the Hotel Cecil, Wellington, where it was hoped to pick up passengers by the early morning train. While the argument was m progress, other cabbies drove up and secured the patronage of travellers, and gall was added to the bitterness of the debate by the knowledge that the angry pair had missed a coin before breakfast. Whips made the heated conference a cutting one, and hateful tram employees were grinning spectators. Both men were charged on Monday with 1 behaviour calculated to inflict a fracture of the peace, when Lane, who is a dark young man, admitted his guilt, "under strong provocation, your Worship," a nlea that took his counsel (Buddie) by surprise. Solicitor .Tackson remarked "Not .guilty" for Corbett, who is a cheerful ancient, capable of working a point with tbe best of 'cm. The police called Lane to convict Corbett, who was alleged to have drawn up his vehicle between Lane's ; cab and tbe. tram cars, instead of j nulling m behind the other man, and when renroved by Lane, Corbett used bis whin freely. j Counsel : Didn't you use the words 'to bim. "You old ?" and "You r.} ( . i" i_Vn : T only 'aid what , v-as m "Truth" +l>i--' v^e'". Mr Jackson didn't want to hear

the words of wisdom that had appeared IN THIS DELECTABLE JOURNAL but it ,is gratifying to find "Truth" quoted as a model m the use of the English language. Tram-despatcher Cross stated m evidence that Corbett kept driving up' and down between the cars and the rank of cabs m the endeavor to pick i up a stray sprat, and his conduct caused much annoyance to the other cabbies, one of whom remarked, "'Put the old b on the rank or smash him up." Corbett tried to ~et out of the crush, but Lane moved Ms animal so as to prevent this, and a block occurred m the traffic. People alighting from the trams couldn't move with safety, and as Lane and Corbett were belaboring each other with whips, the scene was one of excitement. Corbett, stated that he was not shutting Lane off from the trams, as stated, his noble animal being m a line with the door of Lane's vehicle. Lane struck Corbett's neddy with his whip, which angered Corbett, who remarked, " 'It me— not the 'orse !" Lane accordingly transferred the punishment to the man, and Corbett returned the compliment with interest. Lane observed, [ with hatred, "I'll murder you when I get yon at the Manawatu to-night," to which Corbett rejoined, sarcastically, "Will you ? Bring swords and pistols and knives, and I'll be. ready for you." "Lane also remarked, You old -—— ! You old ! If you don't turn I'll smash you." Lane didn't attemut homicide at the Manawatu station that night, much to Corbett's regret. The old buster has been driving m Wellington for three years, but his actual experience with the reins dates back to 1860, and as evidence of his intense resnectabilitv. he mentioned that he had driven nearly all the doctors m Wellington. Questioned by the Sub-Inspector, Corbett was hazy about the number of vehicles on the rank <wM"b is really not a rank), hut m addition to Lane there was also there a cabman who is a •son of a person known as "Holl-fire Jack." • Magistrate Riddell held both men to be enuallv tb blame, and the evmerencn cost them 2.1s each, m default 4$ hours m the "nick." j—.*"** -—■_-__. ______