We will not make particular comments as an appeal was
instantly lodged. We may say, however, that the public has for a long time been rather disturbed about the character of prosecutions of persons using public parks. It is only on rare occasions that a witness other than a constable is produced. Surely this ought not to be. We take the intentions of the police to be excellent, but it must be remembered that a doubtful law has to be administered in these cases, and that in recent years the police have been spurred on by several vigilant societies to cleanse the parks. Of course, we entirely commend that object. But there are obvious dangers when the law is dubious and the evidence-of the police is uncorroborated. What the public wants is that the right thing should be done in the right way. We do not agree with Mr. Mead that Sir Almeric FitzRoy was charged with " a very mild offence." On the con- trary, we regard the charge as a serious one and it should be inquired into by very serious methods.
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