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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 22 Jun 1932
Page 5 Column 2
TAUNTON POLICE-COURT.
FRUIT SELLERS CAUSE OBSTRUCTION.
SCENE AT PUBLIC INSTITUTION.
CASUAL SENTENCED FOR ASSAULT.
WEDNESDAY. - Before the Mayor (Councillor W. E. MAYNARD), Alderman F. W. PENNY and W. G. POTTER, Miss M. I. UPTON, and Mr. R. B. QUICK.
SCHOOLBOYS' OFFENCE.
Seven Taunton boys, whose ages ranged from 10 to 12½ years, were charged in a Juvenile Court with stealing 19 bottles, valued at 1s 7d, the property of Fred James DAVIS, licensee of Clarke's Tap. The offence was committed between May 24th and 26th. - The magistrates found the boys guilty, but dismissed the cases on payment of costs.
NOT A PARKING PLACE.
For causing unnecessary obstruction of the highway with a motor-car on May 28th, Ralph T. GOLLOP, independent, of Colyton, Devon, was fined 10s. - P.C. BABER said defendant left his car outside the Lyceum in Station-road for an hour, and during that time ten town service 'buses had to pull up outside the car. No parking was allowed at this point. - Defendant said he was not aware parking was not allowed there.
CHIMNEY ON FIRE.
Ernest Walter OATEN, dealer, of 36, East-street, Taunton, was summoned for allowing the chimney of his house to be on fire on May 26th.
P.C. CROCKER said at 10.25 a.m., when in East-street, he saw clouds of smoke issuing from a chimney at the rear of defendant's shop. He entered the premises, and, with the assistance of another constable and three members of the Taunton Fire Brigade, extinguished the fire by about 11.30 a.m. - Defendant stated that the chimney was last swept in September or October, 1931, but enquiries revealed that it had not been swept since August, 1930.
A fine of 5s was imposed.
CAR ENGINE RUNNING.
Francis William C. TUCKER, traveller, of Fry's Firm, Culmstock, was summoned for leaving a motor-car on the highway unattended with the engine running on May 26th. - He pleaded guilty.
P.C. MILLS told the magistrates that at 11.10 a.m., when in Station-road, he saw a motor-car, with the engine running, left opposite the Lyceum Theatre. He kept the car under observation until 11.15, when he made search for the driver, and found him in a shop. Defendant said, “I didn't know I left the engine running. I am just going to the Yeovil show, and I called to see a friend.”
Defendant, who expressed his regret, said he had been driving for at least 10 years, and had never previously been summoned. He contended that similar offences were committed all over the country every day, but no action was taken.
A 10s fine was imposed.
FRUIT SELLERS FINED.
The
following fruit sellers were summoned for obstructing the free
passage of the highway with their barrows:- Norman R. MATHEWS, 4,
Bath-place, Taunton, on May 14th; Charles MATTHEWS, 10, Station-road,
Taunton, on May 21st and June 4th; George Edwin BURT, Full Moon,
South-street, Taunton, on May 21st and June 4th.
In the first case
there were three similar offences previously, and MATTHEWS was fined
30s on the evidence of P.C. CAMPBELL. - BURT pleaded guilty, and was
fined 5s in each case, this being a first offence.
Charles MATTHEWS pleaded not guilty, and in giving evidence, said he was doing a considerable amount of business by the Home & Colonial Stores. He moved to Messrs. CLEMENT & BROWN's, and stopped there to do further business. “I didn't mean to cause obstruction.” he said. “I am a working man trying to earn an honest shilling rather than go on the dole, and because I try to do that I get a summons. What are you to do? I have a wife and three children, and they shall not starve for anyone.”
P.C. ROBERTSON and P.C. BUTLER gave evidence, and defendant was fined £1 in each case. There were two previous convictions of a similar nature.
ALLEGED INDECENT LANGUAGE.
Charles WILLINGS, another Taunton fruit seller, was summoned for using indecent language within hearing of the highway on June 3. - He pleaded not guilty
P.C. STONE stated that at 12.20 a.m. He was summoned to No. 2 Court, Magdalene-street, by defendant's wife and her brother. He heard defendant use indecent language in his bedroom.
William Thomas THESHER, butcher, of Paul-street, defendant's brother-in-law, gave corroborative evidence.
Mrs. WILLINGS gave evidence on her husband's behalf.
The Bench dismissed the case on payment of costs, 5s, this being defendant's first offence.
MAINTENANCE ARREARS.
Wlfred E. WOOD, G.W.R. labourer, of 3, St. Augustine-street North, Taunton, was summoned by his wife, Doris Ruby WOOD, of Gloucester-street, Taunton, for arrears under a maintenance order.
Mr. R. W. YOUNG, appearing for applicant, stated that in March last the Bench made an order in respect of the maintenance of applicant and her child, but defendant had refused to obey it. In April the Bench sentenced him to one month's imprisonment for arrears. He, however, paid the amount due after his arrest. Since then he had not paid a penny, and seemed to be determined not to do so before being brought to the Court. The arrears to May 25th were £7.
Defendant said he could not pay unless given time, as he had no money.
Mr. YOUNG said he could call evidence that defendant had been in constant work.
Defendant was committed to prison for one month, the order being suspended for a week to give him a further chance.
LORRY DRIVER FINED £5.
Edred George HARRIS, lorry driver, of 25, West-street, Wilton, Salisbury, was summoned for exceeding the speed limit of 20 miles per hour with a heavy motor vehicle on May 23rd.
Mr. F. W. WILLMOTT represented defendant, and pleaded not guilty.
P.C. WATTS stated that, with P.C. FERMOR, he was on motor patrol duty at Heatherton Park cross roads on Monday, May 23rd. They followed defendant's lorry to the borough of Taunton, and the speed of the police car varied from 35 to 59 miles an hour. Defendant, when stopped, denied doing more than 35 miles an hour anywhere.
Defendant, in evidence, said the maximum speed registered by his speedometer was 30 miles an hour.
Replying to Inspector RANSOME, he stated that he was employed by the Southern Counties Transport Co., Reigate.
Inspector RANSOME stated that there were two previous convictions for similar offences.
At Bodmin in December, 1931, defendant was fined £1, and at Salisbury, in March last, he was fined £2.
The Bench imposed a fine of £5.
INSTITUTION ASSISTANT ASSAULTED.
Sentence of two months' hard labour was passed on Arthur WESTLEY, a labourer, of no fixed abode, who was charged with assaulting Arthur James LYNN, a male assistant, at the Taunton Public Assistance Institution on Tuesday.
Mr.
F. W. WILLMOTT, who represented LYNN, said defendant was one of a
number of casuals in the Taunton Public Assistance Institution. On
the morning of June 14th he was given the task of washing some
shirts. LYNN was going round to see that the works was being carried
out satisfactorily, when he noticed defendant was washing his own
shirt. He told WESTLEY that that was not allowed, but in answer
defendant said in angry tones. “I don't care a --- about you or
any other porter or policeman.”
When serving dinner that day
LYNN had occasion to speak to a casual, who told him to mind his own
business. Accused then said, “Yes, you keep your --- mouth
shut.” LYNN cautioned him, and then, after using further oaths,
WESTLEY dashed round the table, picked up a shovel, and, rushing at
LYNN, brought it down with considerable force. LYNN had a tray in his
right hand, but he put his left hand up to defend himself. He took
the force of the blow in this way, but did not avoid being struck,
and received an extensive cut across the side of the face.
Evidence bearing out this statement was given by LYNN, Arthur LEET, and George Samuel LAVIS.
Mr. Bertie WOOD, master of the Institution, stated that at about noon, when he was in the garden, he heard a disturbance in the casual ward. He proceeded towards it, and was met by LYNN, whose face was “streaming in blood.”
P.C. STONE gave evidence of arresting prisoner.
James BURKE, another casual, who was brought to give evidence by the police, stated that prisoner lost his temper and jumped at the porter. There was a scuffle, but he saw no blows struck.
Prisoner,
in a statement to the Bench, gave his version of what took place
during the morning, and alleged that the trouble arose when the
porter brought cold water instead of hot water for making
tea.
Several other witnesses were called for the defence, all
being casuals who were present when the alleged assault took place.
They contended that the shovel accidentally grazed the porter's face
when he tried to take the shovel away from WESTLEY.
The Bench, by a majority, found prisoner guilty. He was sentenced to two months' hard labour.