A QUEENSLAND J.P.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1703, 12 May 1886, Page 2

A QUEENSLAND J.P.

Mr Harold Finch Hattoo, a gen kleman who has had a somewhat extensive experience of life in the sister Colony, has published in London a racy acoon&t of the stme. As a Magistrate onr author had often to see a good deal of > justice administered by drank en magis trates. One example will suffice. A prisoner was brought in charged with having removed goods to the value of Is 4d from a store. Before the evidence was finished a terrible frown gathered on the Magistrate's brow Ramming his cabbage-tree bat well over his eyes, in imitation of the awful ceremony of patting on the black cap, he rose slowly up, and pointing a shaking finger at the culprit, said ; " Take 'itn away and 'ang him. "Beg pardon, your said the constable, "this is only a case of " "Take 'im away and 'ang him." repeated His Worship, more slowly and impressively than before. " Bat, yoar Worship," expostulated the bewildered official, " yon have no power." "No power, jost ain't I, though," shouted the now thoroughly infuriated magistrate. "'Ear way I shay ?— Take him away and 'ang him." and subsiding iuto his seat, he was heard to add in a voice of maudlin pathos, " And Lor* 'a mercy on his soul." Seeing that remonstrance was useless the constable removed the prisoner and afterwards returned. " Taken 'im away and 'nng him !" asked the Magistrate, cheerfully. "Yes, you Worship." •*• AU right I sh'raiss case."