SWAGGERS IN TROUBLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 48367, 27 September 1894, Page 3

SWAGGERS IN TROUBLE.

Ten Men Arrested, At the Mnstorton S,M. Court at ! noon to-day, John Cooper, James Collins, Wm. Kennedy, John White, ; Charles Peterson, Frederick Moore, Charles Scott, Matthew Borglun, James Cook and Sigfriccl Silvio, , swatjgors, were charged before Mr T. Hutchison, Stipendiary Magistrate, i with entering tho kitchen at Blairlogie station and taking therefrom ■ food to the value of 10s, All tho accused pleaded guilty to i eating the food, but not to breaking

into the promises. Sergeant McArdle stated that the / men camo to tk Blnirlogie station \ on Tuesday, arict wore supplied with tea, On the folfowing morning they came again and were told only two would be supplied with food, but I they all sat down and ate the food 1 on the table. * The evidence of Mr John Morrison was that he had told the cook yes- i terday, not to give any of the men present food. He had told the men " this also. He found them later sitting at the men's table, having their breakfast, He asked them what J business they had there, One got 1 up and said ho was not going to starve, Tho same men came the previous evening and asked to stay the night, Witness said they could ] stayhutthey wouldgetnothing toeat, ( They said they had come a long way ] and the next station was fivo mjles off, and that they must have food and would take it. They went to the ] men's house, and in a quarter of an J hour returned and repeated the re- J quest for food, Witness again said they could not be supplied, and the men again returned to the men's quarters, Somo of the men pave evidence that they were hardworking and really in need of food, and the whole ' affair was a misunderstanding, ' His Worship said that however t hard it may appear, it was just as bad to take food as to take a man's coat, Station-holders had the right to refuse food to swaggers, On consideration of tho statoment of Constablo Collerton, who said they appeared to bo a decent lot of men, he was inclined to discharge them on their breaking up into small parties, '■' In reply to tho Bench, Sergeant McArdle said thoy appeared a decent lqt of fellows. The accused were then discharged and all stated they would not be in that position again.