THE SEAMY SIDE.

Shannon News, 21 November 1924, Page 1

THE SEAMY SIDE.

, TALES TOLD BY MAGISTRATE. HUSBAND AND WIVES, * Politeness prevails In the : , ■ South Western Police Court, Lavender Hill, which takes in offenders from the Crystal Palace to Putney .The court has a 'southern aspect, is tastefully decorated in olive green, and the furniture includes a handsome bookcase. Prisoners and applicants were ushered in quietly and sedately, « and policemen spoke in & whisper. Mr' K. Marshall, the. magistrate, who, might be mistaken for a clergyman, slipped quietly dnto his seat; the 'usher, who has the air of a sidesman, coughed gently as he carefully placed the Testament in the witness-box; and the warrant officer who is also the sergeant; in charge, has the soft voice and gentle manners of a churchwarden. ~

The sergeant acted as a kind of confidential 'secretary to the magistrate Half a dozen women were escorted in turn by the sergeant to make their respective applications. Policeman's Bow.

"This lad3 r ," said the sergeant in a low, confidential voice, indicating a middle-aged woman with a market basket and a. sense of injury. "Is asking for a summons against her lodger who she says, struck her in the face," "Very well," said the magistrate, inclining his head.

The sergeant bowed to the Bench and gracefully dismissal the applicant, who was succeeded by a little, pale-faced woman. i

"This lady,, explained the sergeant, says /her husband struck her, with the result that she had a fit. She desires that he should be cautioned. Again the magistrate bowed, and a de-termined-looking woman took her place in the witness-box.

Softly spoke (he sergeant: "This lady has a legal seperation from her husband, and he annoys her by bang* ing on the door of the house where she is employed. She fears that she will lose her situation." "Tell the husband that he must not annoy her," said Mr Marshall. Etiquette Disregarded.

The sergeant made a note of the order, and introduced a buxom, darkeyed woman, who, without waiting for a formal introduction from, the court guide, said: "He told me he was a single man, I can't fight in the street, and she: called hini tier husband, but it seems she is only living with him."

MrMarshall blinked, and even the sergeant looked at sea. | "What is it all about?" asked Mr~ Marshall. The sergeant had a whispered consultation with the applicant and explained: "This lady is be'ng troubled by a woman who persists in making scenes." ' -. ' A constable was instructed to stop the scenes; and there appeared a man who wanted advice about his wife, who, he declared, was always drunk. "Last Sunday," he said, "I found a | man lying on the sofa.* When one of my daughters asked him what he wanted he said, "Tell your mother I want to see her."

The man was 'told he had no legal redress unless he could prove that his wife was an habitual drunkard and unable to look after the house. A stalwart labourer of 24 with a generous mop of hair b»t no collar, was summoned by his wife for the non-payment of £lB due under a maintenance order. The man said he was paid 10/- a night, but work was stopped on the road on account of rain and he only made £2 15/-a week. He was ordered to pay the money pr go to prison for 21 days, and a young policeman observed to a colleague, "Let's hope it will keep fine for him.'' For a "Nice Cup of Tea."

A middle-aged man named Harvey denied to a detective that his name was Brown, and he added that he was not the man who called at a house in Penworthy Road. Streatham, to examine the piano and afterwards obtained a cheque-book. The detective said the man had eight packets of football coupons on him when arrested; but this did not interest Harvey, What h e was really anxious about was whether he could have the 10/1J that he had before he was searched. , "What do you want it for?" asked Mr Marshall. "I would like a nice cup of tea and something good to eat," replied Harvey fervently. "Any objection?" asked Mr Marshall. 'None at all," replied the detective, and Harvey eagerly departed m search of something good to eat. Thomas Michael Hurley, was an hour late at the court, and when he did turn up he brought a black eye with him "I thought the time was eleven o'clock, your worship," said Hurley, beaming through his good eye. "You know you were told to come at ten o'clock," said the sergeant reproachfully. "I suppose he is late through the effects of last night," said Mr 'Marshall.

"That's true enough," agreed Hurley. "If anybody had any fun itj wasn't me." , i "Twenty-shillings" sighed Mr Marshall. ' '"*■ One other case having been dealt with, the usher removed the Testament, the sergeant softly advised a late woman applicant to call again, Mr Marshall rose silently, and the morning's work was done.