BABBIE'S BOTHER.

NZ Truth, Issue 140, 22 February 1908, Page 6

BABBIE'S BOTHER.

BATTLE OF BOARDING-HOUSE

KEEPERS.

. Troupe has of .late .fallen thickly on the home of David Barri-e, which is known as the Paragon • boiirdinghouse, Dixon-stteet. -The police recently suspected it of ,b«ing a slv-srog-gery, and raided the premises. With results that havu -still to come to light iv tlve MagiiStratc's Court. Then the brother of ESarrie's milkman had a row with the- hash-house keeper over an unsettled account, and he alleges that Baririe visited his , wrath upon the countenance of the cow-juice merchant, although the Magistrate considered the assault un.proven. Then Isabella Barrie, aged thirteen, and daughter of David, had a remark made to her on Sunday last W'hien induced her to lay an information against Robert James Christopher .Seal for using obscene language. It appears that. the Barrie establishment ran short of cornflower! and at noon Bella went across 'to Mrs Watson's Shamrock boardinghouse to have the want supplied; Seal was standing outside the latter hash-foundry when the girl arrived* And it is alleged ho said, "Here's the b- little o who put our pots on," or words to. that effect. The observation was apparently some tjhadowry reference to tlie sh r Tog prosecution. . At any rate, 'the language was too horrifying for the sirl to mention, and. . l \ SHE WROTE IT DOWN. Sub-Inspector O'Donovan :" Does "to" represent a word, or did lie say "k" ? It's a word:- , Then write it down. ; The girl (turning to the orderly! : How do you spell it ?—( Overly embarrassed. ) -..-'The Sub-Inspector : ' Spell it your own way. And she. did. It was a remark&bile-looking word. 'The girl obtained- and paid for her corn-flower, and when' she was retiring, Seal said, "Why 'don't vbu buy b/.* cornflower instead: of buying beer." These insulting remarks were told: to Mrs JBarrie, .who immediately ' sent her daughter round 'to Constable Stewart, and that fearless officer arrested his man.. When m .the grip of the law, Seal had the indiscretion to say, "I only said to her, .'wiry, don't you buy some bcornflower instead of beer.' " > Mr Toogood (to the constable): Did you say the Magistrate would not believe Seal if he brought the whole of the Shanirock boarders as witnesses '/—Well, no respectable person can walk past there without being insulted. \ Did you make, the statement ?— I did say I , didn't think the Magistrate would believe him. I know him too well. ' ■ ' ' The defence called Chas> Dorman (a gentleman who works at Kaiwarra), Barney Burns (a foreman), and Mrs Stoneley (^- ; yyaitress m Shamrock) to prove that Seal didn't open his mouth when the girl arrived, but as she was. leaving he said, "Why don't you buy cornflower instead of beer ?" a query ROBBED OF ALL OBSCENITY. Magistrate Riddell : The case is' a very, suspicious one, but on' the evidence there seems to be some doubt, and I give accused the benefit of that doubt. The Sub-Inspector desired to alter the charge 'to one of "abusive language," but Mr Toogood objected to proceeding with that charge without notice. The Sub. : The case depends upon whether your Worship believes the evidence of the girl. His Worship : I don't say thivt I do not believe the girl. The information was dismissed, and the Bench signified its wiUinpniss to hear the fresh charge on a f'l^ure date. On Wednesday Seal was charge \ with using abusive language, and was, convicted and fined 40s and costs, or seven days. An application for tine to oay the amount was refused.