RENEWING HIS KIT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2134, 17 July 1907, Page 2

RENEWING HIS KIT.

THE SEARCH FOR A “BOBTAILED FLUSH.” A young seafaring man, named James Smith, occupied the dock at the Auckland Police Court the other morning in connection with a charge or stealing, a quantity of clothing, practically forming the kit of William Riley. Rilev entered tho witness-box, and proceeded to relate how last month ho came ashore from thj steamer Squall and put-up at the Sailor’s Homo. One night, it was the 27tK June, he bethought him of seeing the ulay,and with a companion spent a very pleasant evening “among the gods.” Arriving home he discovered the loss of some shorts from a chest of drawers, and next morning found that his kit had been practically “cleaned out,” an old coat and a pair of dungarees being the only relics.

At this stage Smith thought it was time to have his say,, which he did by accusing the despoiled one of wholesale perjury. A blue jumper was held up by Chief Detective Marsack for identification.

“Is this article yours?” queried Mr. Marsack of Riley. “In course it is,” he replied confidently; “didn’t I sew up that corner myself.”

Accused : “That jumper is mine.” Riley: “Prove it,” and,, turning to the body of the court, ho appealed to some invisible mate to come forward and settle the argument. Order was restored 'and a fresh start made, accused and complainant in turn claiming ownership of tho articles of clothing on exhibition. At a later stage, when asked to explain how Riley’s seaboots came to bo found in his bag at the police station Smith vehemently declared that it was all a put-up job against him, and complained that the other man had been getting at him while pretending t i be in search of his “bob-tail flush.” As to the constitution. of a “bob-tail flush” the Court was not vouchsafed an explanation, for at this moment accused’s attention was diverted to Detective Scott, who detailed the finding of the missing wardrobe among Smith’s effects on tho barque Kaipara. The guns against him being apparently too heavy, the prisoner elected to take his gruel without further parley, contenting himself with grunting his general disapproval when consigned to three months’ hard in His Majesty’s gaol.