AN ENTHUSIASTIC "B0BBY."

Temuka Leader, Issue 377, 21 April 1881, Page 3

AN ENTHUSIASTIC "B0BBY."

Professional enthusiasm is not peculiar to the soldier or.the critic. It is shared by the policeman, whose burning zeal for the incarceration of her Majesty's lieges is so often quenched by an unsympathetic magistracy. This pleasing trait in the characters of the guardians of the peace has lately had a not able exemplification in Newcastle. A policeman stationed outside St. Thomas' Church for the purpose of keeping the adjoining pavement free from obstruction, was (old by a wag that his services were required ioside. The "active and intelligent" officer promptly entered the building, and stood, helmet in hand, awaiting inslructions. A churchwarden, who superintended the seating of the congregation, seeing him, and thinking him an intending worshipper, pointed him out a pew in which was a respectable, and, as it turned out, an unfortunate working man. The policeman, imagining this poor fellow the delinquent ho had been called in to arrest, requested him to step out, took him into custody, and haled him off to the nearest police-station. This able officer then repaired to the church and asked the churchwarden in question what accusation he had against the prisoner. An explanation ensued, followed by the release of the innocent, and a great many humble apologies. The wag who invited the policeman in has rot yet been discovered.