charged with stealing
nine ferns from a garden. One month.

Ripley Petty Sessions. Before Messrs. J. B. Wheeler, W. D. Bembridge,
and M. Hooper. Vincent Allen and George Hall, charged under the
Poaching Prevention Act with being found in possession of a number of
rabbits, and John Sparham, charged with aiding and abetting them. Hall
and Sparham fined 1 pound, 17s. 4d., and Allen 2 pounds, 17s. 4d.,
including costs; the former committed for fourteen days and the latter
for one month in default of payment.

South-western Police Court, London. Before Mr. Rose. John Probyn,
charged with doing grievous bodily harm to a constable. Prisoner had
been kicking his wife, and also assaulting another woman who protested
against his brutality. The constable tried to persuade him to go
inside his house, but prisoner suddenly turned upon him, knocking him
down by a blow on the face, kicking him as he lay on the ground, and
attempting to strangle him. Finally the prisoner deliberately kicked
the officer in a dangerous part, inflicting an injury which will keep
him off duty for a long time to come. Six weeks.

Lambeth Police Court, London. Before Mr. Hopkins. "Baby" Stuart,
aged nineteen, described as a chorus girl, charged with obtaining food
and lodging to the value of 5s. by false pretences, and with intent to
defraud Emma Brasier. Emma Brasier, complainant, lodging-house keeper
of Atwell Road. Prisoner took apartments at her house on the
representation that she was employed at the Crown Theatre. After
prisoner had been in her house two or three days, Mrs. Brasier made
inquiries, and, finding the girl's story untrue, gave her into
custody. Prisoner told the magistrate that she would have worked had
she not had such bad health. Six weeks' hard labour.

CHAPTER XVII--INEFFICIENCY

I stopped a moment to listen to an argument on the Mile End Waste. It
was night-time, and they were all workmen of the better class. They had
surrounded one of their number, a pleasant-faced man of thirty, and were
giving it to him rather heatedly.

"But 'ow about this 'ere cheap immigration?" one of them demanded. "The
Jews of Whitechapel, say, a-cutting our throats right along?"

"You can't blame them," was the answer. "They're just like us, and
they've got to live. Don't blame the man who offers to work cheaper than
you and gets your job."