Miscellaneous.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1553, 17 June 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

Miscellaneous.

„ QpTEBOUS COMEADE. dv^odpHWth strong drink, two men fell on the wharf, and thence lihtfta fight ; and they were fighting savagely, isnd the wharfinger, had just drawn hfrMnife— -when two policemen came upon the scene. The sailor surrendered to the officers L of the law without opposition; but not so the other ; they had to fairly knock him down to avoid his knife. Bum had made him' crazy. The two men were locked up, and on the following day brought up for judgment. The judge head the case, and after listening to all the pros and cons, as given by the bystanders, whom the officers had brought up, and by the offioers themselves — he was ready to administer judgment. lo the Bailor he gave a sharp reprimand, and put him on probation, ailowing.him to go about his business, his captain becoming surety for his 'good behaviour during the remainder of his stay in port. The wharfinger, whose offence was far I more grave, in that he had drawn a deadly weapon, and had resisted the officers of the law, he must sent to gaol forjthree monthß. Upon this the sailor appeared to be very uneasy j and finally as tne officer was about to lead the wharfinger away, he mustered courage enough to speak. "May it please yer honour/ he said, with a deferential bow, " if I might say a word," The judge told him to go on. " Well, yer honour, here it is/ he Baid, with honest simplicity, and intense earnestness—"Me and Tom (the wharfinger,; had been splioin' the main brace pooty freely, and doublin' the tub rayther too often, I know. In fact we was both of us more'n half seas over, and I was just as ugly as Tom was, and just as muoh to blame. I did hit him a little hard when he drew his knife. Poor feller 1 ho didn't railly mean it, cause d' you see— he were drunk. Well, now, yer Honour, he's got a wife and four little ones dependin' on him for bread, while 1 haven't got chick nor otiild, nor notuin', only myself. Now, if so be as your honour can pat Tom on probation, X know he can get somebody to be bound for him, and let nun go tree, and let me take his place in gaol, 1 chink it would fix the whole thing >up kind o' Bhip-shape. Don't yer honour think you could ao it just for this time?" Tne plea of the honest tar produced a sensation in the court-room. A gentleman, wbo proved to be an owner of the ship, and who nad employed the, wharfinger, went up and whispered with the judge; and, to make a long story shorter, 'lorn was finally put on probation, &c having promised to behave himself in the future. JBut Jack was not sent to gaol in his place. — American Paper.