BURBLING

NZ Truth, Issue 1152, 29 December 1927, Page 5

BURBLING

Spring's Course Was Diverted

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Rep.) Have you met "Sharpo," the razor expert? No? Well, meet John James Spring, one-time steward but now a blunt-speaking maker of sharpeners for blunt razors which he peddles round the town. CPRING had a hat which he took into ■^ the Victoria Laundry depot in Willis Street, Wellington, to get cleaned. He also has a black Stetson which he left at the depot with instructions to the girl to sell it if she could. , . , | lie only wanted 10/- for it, of which amount he promised the girl in the shop half for selling it. Last week in convivial mood he called to inquire if the sale had taken place. Thereby hangs this tale. Spring apparently does not belie his name. While in the shop and monopolizing the counter with his lanky form, who should come in on business bent, but Archibald W. Blair, a leading legal luminary of the capital city, who, the next day, was elevated to the judiciary. The judge apparently did not like the way Spring was .monopolizing the counter and pestering the girl behind it. To his mind, she was in distress and would much prefer that Spring betook himself and the razor he was stropping on a tobacco tin, out into the street. His honor asked "Sharpo" to make himself scarce and to look sharp about it— but that settled it. The judge received a whack on the nose and retaliated by tossing Spring out into the street and handing him over to a constable. A Spring Song The sequel was heard in the court next day when, before Magistrate Page, the police prosecuted "Sharpo" for assaulting the person of Lawyer A. W. Blair. The man of razor sharpeners, through his counsel, Lawyer J. F. R. Wallace, pleaded not guilty. There followed auite an interesting and lively half-hour, much to the amusement of court habitues >«whose loud guffaws echoed round the building despite an irate court orderly. A large force' of Wellington's legal fraternity occupied the floor space at the back of the legal benches and listened to the tale of how one of their number joined in a "rough house." Lawyer Blair's face, when he stepped into the box, showed signs of wear and tear, two pieces of skin being missing from his right cheek. Accused was sitting on the counter, he said, when witness entered the shop. "He was leaning in a familiar sort of way towards the girl." He had a razor in his right hand and a tin of tobacco in the other and was monopolizing the whole shop. He was not drunk, but he appeared to have had some liquor. "I asked the girl if accused was annoying her," said witness, "and she indicated that he was. I asked him to «o out of the shop but he refused to go." "I said: If you don't go, I'll put you out,' and with that he struck me on the nose. We then closed," added the legal man as he went on to describe the combat. "1 got him into an alley-way off the main street and threw him." Later a constable came along. ? ■■' To Senior-Sergeant Harvey, who prosecuted, witness said that he never struck "Sharpo" before he himself was hit or at any time afterwards. Lawyer Wallace: How did the lady indicate to you that she was being annoyed? — She nodded. She appeared to be nervous. Did you move towards this man? — Well, the counter is only so long and we were never more than a pace apart at any time. He hopped off the counter and said he was going to kill me, or words to that effect. Hats — And Hits "He would not have hit me if I had known he was going to .'lit," added witness emphatically. (Laughter.) Lawyer Wallace: You know he went into the shop to have a. hat cleaned? — Mine could do with a. bit of a clean-un too, now. Was he bleeding? — No. He complained about my blood spoiling his suit of clothes which he said cost him £7. I will admit I was bleeding pretty freely. (Laughter.) The young lady who was in charge of the shop at the time, when giving" her version of the affair, said accused was leaning about the counter, and had a razor in his hand. She was very scared of him. He had been in before but not on that day. "He was telling me what a wonderful man he was." "Mr. Blair asked me if I wanted him to put accused out and I nodded, and, said 'yes,' quietly." Accused had said: "There will be two hits; I'll hit you and you'll hit the floor." (Laughter). Lawyer Wallace said "Sharpo" had been threatened by Blair and he harl defended himself by attacking. He was known professionally as "Sharpo," the razor expert and was demonstrating. "Sharpo" elected to give evidence on his own behalf and quite confidently stated the case. "I wasn't drunk," he said, "but I had had one or two drinks. I sat on the counter just- merry and bright; didn't care if it snowed,

you know. Blair butted in and I

said: 'Who are you talking to? • One of the crew? Do you belong to the Goat Club. You can't come butting in here if you don't.' (Laughter).

"He had no right to come interfering with me. I said: 'I'll hit you and you'll hit the deck.' "We had a box round; I won. ■ Then finish — I was pinched. I was moving over towards the door when he came over to put me out, I told him there would be a rough house in a minute." (Laughter.) To Senior- Sergeant Harvey, "Sharpo" said he struck as Blair turned to put him out. He was in the shop on business and had as much right there as Blair.

The Senior-Sergeant; How long were, you in the shop? — Seven or eight minutes.

Well, It didn't take you that time to do your business. Lawyer Wallace said the charge ought to be dismissed as there was no direct evidence that accused had struck Xiawyer Blair first. Magistrate Page said that Springhad gone into the shop, stayed longer than he should, terrified the girl by displaying a razor, and had then become unruly when merely asked to leave. He would be fined £5 and must also pay witnesses' expenses. Spring asked for time to pay but this was not allowed him, so unless he can find gome friend in need to .help him over this- trying time, he will spend his Christmas and New Tear in gaol, for the default w0.3 fixed at 21 days.