AN AMUSING DEVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 267, 21 April 1915, Page 6

AN AMUSING DEVICE.

MOCK TRIAL. TO AID THE BKLOIANS. April 13. A mock court was a feature of the Belgian festival yesterday. A !ar«c force of policemen', dressed up for the "lost part in blue dungarees and weunng soldiers' helmets, scoured the ground throughout the day and arrested knoxvn citizens" by the slioal. Hi 'Se "offenders" were haled before a coirt, which sat in a small tent and dispensed summary justice, fining each offender according to his apparent means, without the option. To swell the funds, a "Barker" stood at the door and invited the populace to enter. He was most persuasive. "Only sixpence to hear a serious charge,' l.'e bawled, and the crowds flocked in to ?Ci> the ends of justice served. The judge wore a grotesque mask, surmounted by a wig with big ear-flaps. In his decisions, he reminded one of Judge .Jeffries and the Bloody Assize. Each culprit was lugged, struggling or peaeable into a little sheep-run kind of all'air that led to the dock, where he was formally charged with some misdemeanour to suit local circumstances. One of the first arrests was that of Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M. This was regarded as a great caup, and he was promptly charged with loitering, ant fined proportionally. Mr. A. B. Bailey, S.M., was also apprehended, and then a strong posse of police brought in Superintendent Dwyer, who was described as an old offender, with !>9!) previous convictions. His police uniform did not save him, and he was heavily mulcted for his lapse. Mr. Frank Thompson, general manager of the tramways, was charged with refusing to run the trains after midnight. He was fined and admonished. One very old farmer, v.ho seemed to be in some doubt as to the ground for his arrest, was charged with refusing to vote for his own candidate. He still looked like protesting, until he was fined 2a 6d, when he loosened up with a smile of relief. The process went on all day. Some of the fines were large and some small. They were all taken in good part, although the proceedings were somewhat of the piratical order. However, the judge, who was identifiable by his voice as Mr. 11. ]). Ackland, the well-known lawyer, tempered the wind to the shorn lamb, and altogether showed a wise discretion in making the punishment fit the crime. As the court sat continuously, witii only half-an-hour'B adjournment for luncheon, and the fines were never lovir than half-a-erown, the rever.ue must have been enormous.