MAGISTRATE’S COURT
CHRISTCHURCH.
Mr S. E. M’Carthy, S.M., presided at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. A first offender was convicted and fined 5s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness at Riccarton racecourse. A first offender, a woman, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Edmund Henry Robert Lister, alias Harry Lister, was convicted and fined £l, in default seven days’ imprisonment for drunkenness. -Star, 13/8/1920.
MAGISTRATE’S COURT.
CHRISTCHURCH.
(Before Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Two first offenders for drunkenness were each fined 20s, in default twentyfour hours' imprisonment. Edmund Henry Robert Lister, who has been convicted for drunkenness twice in the past six months, consented to take out a prohibition order, and was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months. -Star, 1/9/1926.
COULD NOT SLEEP; TOOK METHYLATED SPIRITS.
When Edmund Henry Robert Lister, labourer, fifty years of age, came up before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., to-day, on a charge of drunkenness, Senior Sergeant Fitzpatrick said that Lister took methylated spirits. “Why do you drink methylated spirits?" the Magistrate asked. “I can’t get any sleep." “If you go on drinking methylated spirits, you will go to the hospital. Do you take it regularly?" “No, sir, only occasionally." “If you require liquor, it would be better to take ordinary liquor." “I generally take that." Senior-Sergeant Fitzpatrick said that Lister, apparently, received remittances from Home. He was fined £3, in default seven days' imprisonment. -Star, 3/12/1927.
GENTLEMAN WHEN SOBER
But Pest If Drunk Said Counsel
(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Rep.)
"An English gentleman when he is sober, but an English pest when he is drunk." Thus, in the Dunedin Police Court, Mr. C. J. L. White described Edmund Henry Robert Lister, aged 53, for whom he was pleading when Lister appeared before Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M., charged with the theft of an overcoat valued at £5, the property of Charles George Baker.
The police information was that Lister had borrowed the overcoat from Baker, who later, finding that he was unable to recover his property, put the matter in the hands of the police. It was subsequently discovered that Lister had pawned it for 5/-.
Mr. White admitted the facts, but put forward circumstances which he suggested would eliminate the element of theft. Lister, said counsel, was a remittance man from England, and Mr White handled all his affairs. When Lister got on a drinking bout it was counsel's policy to "cut off" his allowance.
Invariably, on these, occasions, accused would pawn something or other and counsel would have to redeem it on the other's behalf.
"He is a man of gentlemanly birth and once held very high rank as an officer, in the Imperial Army," stated counsel. "This is a frightful downfall for him...he is an English gentleman when sober, but an English pest when drunk."
The magistrate having intimated that he considered theft had been established, Chief-detective Cameron handed m a record of accused's previous convictions. With the remark that apparently it was an "act of drunken folly," Mr. Bundle adjourned the case for 12 months. 25/7/1929.
What are we to make of the story of Mr Lister? A remittance man was usually one who was "sent to the colonies" after some disgraceful incident and sent a "remittance" - a steady sum of money - on condition that he not return to the scene of his disgrace.
There is the matter of his military history - described as having been an officer of high rank, but buried with a rank of Private. Perhaps his drinking, exile and military history are all connected.
A Google search returns the intriguing existence of a 1910 divorce, Lister being the appellant, Maud the respondent, and Giuseppe Cosber Zanon as co-respondent.
A "Papers Past" search finds the death in 1945 of Catherine, "widow of the late E H R Lister," and a bare mention of his death in Dunedin and a private interment.
Perhaps Harry Lister will remain a man of mystery.
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