Gaol "Prestige "

NZ Truth, Issue 1141, 13 October 1927, Page 5

Gaol "Prestige "

"THIS Australian criminal"—thus *• Chief Detective Cummings, m opening, before Magistrate Hunt at the Auckland Polfce Court, a series of further charges against Edward Charles Townsend (32), who was sentenced at the Wellington Magistrate's Court recently to nine months' imprisonment on several charges of false pretences and theft. "He became friendly with a highly respectable woman on the boat coming over," stated the chief detective, "and married her when he arrived m Auckland." "Ruined a decent woman's life," observed his worship. Townsend: "There's certainly that aspect, sir. But I saw my wife yesterday and she still intends to stick to me afterwards. I told a certain amount of lies, sir, and to keep up that prestige " Chief Detective Cummings: "The prestige of being a guest of the Adelaide gaol!" "That's the way we deal with men like you who come over here," sternly remarked his worship, as he sentenced Townsend to six months' imprisonment on one charge, to be concurrent with his present sentence, and six months on the other. The total length of his imprisonment will be followed by a term of reformative treatment not to exceed two years. iiiiiimiimHnmiiiiHiiiiimiiiiiminmiiHiniiMiiminiiHiiiiiniiiiiiiirrniiiiiiiitrt When run to earth eventually m some gardens at Mangere, he had m his possession, the neat little sum of £40 odd. But he has gone back to China—and so has his £40. In a more recent case Magistrate Hunt announced that m future any Chinese who have overstayed tfceir permits and voluntarily surrender themselves to the Customs Department, will be met with a fine. How fearfully drastic! But perhaps the court will balance matters by a further display of leniency to those, who—having stayed- as long as they oi their employers desire—begin to feel a trifle homesick and yearn for a sight of the old folks at home, "surrender" themselves for deportation. We may, perhaps, look forward to something like this when the next Chinese appears before the court: Clerk (calling from chargesheet): "Ah Wat Rot!" And a well-dressed young Chinese, with a grin as wide as the Gulf of Pechili, steps forward into the dock. Magistrate: "Good-morning! It's a fine morning this morning." The grin fades and the Chinese features become downcast at the word "fine," but his confidence is restored by his worship explaining that he was only referring to the weather. Magistrate (to Customs Collector): 'How long has our friend of the yellow petal been with us?" Customs Collector: "Three years, four worship, and we shall be sorry to ose him. He has been very considerite to my department; m fact, we have lot heard a word from him since he :ame into the country. "The portrait he gave us on his ar•ival is now very faded and we were vondering whether we should ever recognize him again. "It is very thoughtful of him .to look is up. I understand he wishes to leave vith the utmost dispatch, as one of his llustrious ancestors is m bad health." Counsel: "Yes, your worship, he is lorry to have to leave the Dominion, >ut he informs me that he has nownade quite a nice little sum of money Lnd wishes to go back home." Magistrate: "When does he wish to leave?" Counsel: "Should it please your worihip, as soon as possible. But as there s no vessel scheduled to sail for several lays, I would respectfully ask the sourt to use its influence m recalling he s.s. Niagara, which left for Sydney 'esterday." Magistrate: "Very well. . . And, >y the way, how is your client off for >ocket money on the voyage?" Customs Collector: "I think, your