The Western Daily Press Bristol 20 May 1919 War Office Criticised Bristol Police Court includes Ernest Albert OATEN

Sarah Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper Articles


The Western Daily Press, Bristol. Tuesday 20 May 1919

Page 5 Column 3


WAR OFFICE CRITICISED.

BRISTOL MAGISTRATE AND CHARGE OF THEFT.

Strong criticism was levelled at the War Office by Mr E. J. BURT, at the Bristol Police Court yesterday, when George William REED (51), and Ernest Albert OATEN (43), were again before him. The former was charged with stealing a quantity of hay, oats and bran, valued £138, the property of H.M. Government, and the latter with receiving it well knowing it to have been stolen.

Mr. E. J. WATSON represented REED, and Mr A. W. TAYLOR appeared for OATEN.

At the previous hearing on Friday last the evidence for the prosecution showed that REED who was employed at the Remount Depot, Shirehampton, as a civilian clerk, in charge of the forage stores, sent several loads of hay, oats, or bran, by means of army transport wagons to OATEN's premises at Lower Ashley Road. The men who took the loads from Shirehampton, were each paid £3 by REED.

Mr TAYLOR handed in a statement from OATEN which was: “I am not guilty. I honestly believed what REED told me that his dealings with me were straightforward and bona-fide. He deceived others and he deceived me. The price I paid him for the goods I had would average nearly, if not quite, market price. Everything was done openly, and as soon as I was asked about my transactions with REED I told the police everything and helped them all I could.”

REED pleaded not guilty.

Mr E. J. BURT committed both prisoners for trail at the Quarter Session. He said he was astonished at the apparent indifferent inaction of the War Office although the charge against the prisoners concerned £188 worth of property belonging to that Department. The whole of the responsibility of placing the evidence before him had been placed on the officers of that court. That state of affairs was most unsatisfactory and unjust to all concerned. The inaction of the War Office was past his comprehension.


Back to Miscellaneous Page

Back to Home Page




<NOTES: Ernest Albert OATEN son of Frederick OATEN and Clara HORWOOD, daughter of Emma Jessie CLEMENTS>